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The Oresteia: Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Furies

The classic trilogy about murder, revenge and justice, as heard on BBC Radio 3 – plus a bonus documentary exploring Aeschylus' seminal Greek tragedy.

A chilling tale of homecoming, violent death and bloody vengeance, The Oresteia dates back to the fifth century BC, but its themes still resonate today. At once a family saga, morality tale and courtroom drama, it recounts how two generations of the cursed House of Atreus become locked into a deadly cycle of atrocities. To break the chain, their private vendetta must become public, as questions of guilt and justification are decided in the first ever homicide trial....

Agamemnon

The Trojan War is over, and conquering hero Agamemnon arrives home to Argos. But victory came at an appalling price – the sacrifice of his eldest daughter, Iphigenia. Now, his wife Clytemnestra is determined to take a grisly revenge …

The Libation Bearers

Returning from exile, Agamemnon's son Orestes vows to avenge his father’s death by murdering his killer, his own mother Clytemnestra. But where can he find the strength to carry out such a horrific deed?

The Furies

Having committed matricide, Orestes flees to Delphi. But the remorseless Furies, ancient deities of vengeance, are on his trail and baying for blood. Can the young gods Apollo and Athena save him from a terrible fate?

Adapted by three of Britain’s most imaginative writers, Simon Scardifield, Ed Hime and Rebecca Lenkiewicz, these contemporary versions of Aeschylus’ trilogy are atmospheric, fast-moving and superbly accessible. The star casts include Lesley Sharp as Clytemnestra, Hugo Speer as Agamemnon and Will Howard as Orestes.

Each of the plays is introduced by Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at Kings College London.

Also featured is an episode of In Our Time, in which Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how The Oresteia has fired the modern imagination, inspiring artists ranging from Richard Wagner to T. S. Eliot.

Agamemnon

The Chorus – Arthur Hughes, Philip Jackson and Carolyn Pickles

Clytemnestra – Lesley Sharp

Agamemnon – Hugo Speer

Cassandra – Anamaria Marinca

Calchas – Karl Johnson

Aegisthus – Sean Murray

Iphigenia – Georgie Fuller

Herald – John Norton

Guards – Steve Toussaint and Harry Jardine

Adapted by Simon Scardifield

Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko

BBC Concert Orchestra Percussionists: Alasdair Malloy, Stephen Webberley and Stephen Whibley

Singer: Adriana Festeu

Sound design by Colin Guthrie

First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 January 2014

The Libation Bearers

Orestes – Will Howard

Electra – Joanne Froggatt

Clytemnestra – Lesley Sharp

The Chorus – Sheila Reid, Amanda Lawrence and Carys Eleri

Aegisthus – Sean Murray

Cilissa – Carolyn Pickles

Pylades – Joel MacCormack

Servants – David Seddon and John Norton

Iphigenia – Georgie Fuller

Adapted by Ed Hime

Directed by Marc Beeby

BBC Concert Orchestra Percussionists: Alasdair Malloy, Stephen Webberley and Stephen Whibley

Singer: Adriana Festeu

Sound design by Cal Knightley and Colin Guthrie

First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 19 January 2014

The Furies

Narrator – Niamh Cusack

Alecto – Polly Hemingway

Megaera – Maureen Beattie

Tisiphone – Carolyn Pickles

Orestes – Will Howard

Athena – Chipo Chung

Apollo – Joel MacCormack

Clytemnestra – Lesley Sharp

The Pythia – Priyanga Burford

Girl – Carys Eleri

Judge – Sean Murray

Adapted by Rebecca Lenkiewicz

Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko

BBC Concert Orchestra Percussionists: Alasdair Malloy, Stephen Webberley and Stephen Whibley

Sound design by Colin Guthrie

First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 26 January 2014

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