Symposium

By: Plato

Narrated by: full cast

The Greek word sumposion means a drinking party (a fact shamefully ignored by the organizers of modern symposia), and the party described in Plato's Symposium is one supposedly given in the year 416 BC by the playwright Agathon to celebrate his victory in the dramatic festival of the Lenaea. He has already given one party, the previous evening; this second party is for a select group of friends, and host and guests alike are feeling a little frail. They decide to forego heavy drinking, and concentrate on conversation. The subject of their conversation is Eros, the god of sexual love.

Symposium was written around 384 BC, and many would regard it as Plato's finest dialogue, from an artistic point of view, and the most enjoyable to read or listen to. There are many reasons for this, including the keyhole glimpse it gives us of Athenian society; the role played in the dialogue by Socrates; the description of what has come to be known as Platonic love; and the characterization of the speakers.

The Cast:

David Shaw-Parker as Socrates

Tim Bentinck as Apollodorus/Alcibiades

Andrew Branch as Aristodemus

Daniel Flynn as Agathon

Gordon Griffin as Pausanias/Friend

Hayward Morse as Phaedrus

Christopher Scott as Eryximachus/Servant

Susan Sheridan as Diotima

David Timson as Aristophanes

Daniel Flynn as Presenter

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2005 Naxos Audiobooks

Everyone’s performance, They’re voices and expressiveness

Diatoma’s explanations to Socrates regarding to the nature of Eros and the speech of drunken Alcebíades about Socrates were very enlightening.

Outstanding narration

Really liked each of the character narrations, felt like I was there sitting around the table listening in.

A must read x times

This book is a very important part of every serious philosophers library. I did not get the full benefit until I came back to it a few years later trying to answer a question about love.

A Philosophical Drama

A marvelous way to experience this wonderfully idiosyncratic Socratic dialogue. Gives a real sense and flavor of Ancient Athens at time of Socrates and Aristophanes.

Well-paced, entertaining, and deeply moving!

I loved the performance of the actors. The story itself was perfect, I enjoyed the banter and prose – perhaps my favorite work of Plato now (having only read The Republic)! Anyways, this comes highly recommended.