Symposium

By: Plato

Narrated by: full cast

Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Socrates on love

A fantastic performance, including multiple voices of one of Plato’s many works. The symposium, drinking party, starts with an ode to Eros, and ends with an ode to Socrates. A great listen to round out your understanding of Socrates and Plato.

Excellent Narration, Highly Entertaining

Very lively conversation, and highly entertaining. The writing style is so snappily constructed that it feels modern. The really valuable element here though is the look into Athenian society at the time, which I enjoyed a lot. Excellent narration by a Naxos full cast. [AUDIBLE]

みんな元気そうな会話してる。ライティングスタイルはモダンな感じある、けどアテネの社会のイメージもめっちゃ貴重な！ナレーションがすごい。

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.

You'll Wish You Were There

A delightful reading of what is probably Plato's most popular dialogue. Worth it just to hear Aristophanes' famous, witty description of spheroid, hermaphroditic humans before Zeus split us into two genders. Note that if you are a raging homophobe, you had better pass on this classic (and on much of Western Civilization).

Like a olay

This is the best audio version I've heard. The translation works well for the performance. This feels like a radio play which only needs some background noise to fully complete it. I appreciated Diotema getting her own voice for once.

Different

I am trying to read a collection of books at the moment which given I have a History Degree people seem to feel I should have read. I apporch this book from having taken a couple of second university courses in Greek rule of Egypt and Rome history.

If you are fimilar to with the content then let me say the reader is good and the pace light.

For those like me who don't know about the content then it is rather different then the modern view of many things. If you have strong views on gay taken child to as lovers I suggest you skip this book. It is written from the view that gay sex is the correct and normal course for man. It is interesting to have couples viewed from a different gender normal.

I hope all Dialogues are performed in this way!

Symposium is the most enjoyable dialogue. The stuff have done a very impressive job representing it. I hope Plato's other work could also be performed in this way.

Teach me more, Socrates!!

There is not a single thing I didn't like about this book! Everything about it was 100% perfect!

The full voice cast really immersed you in what was happening. You could truly believe that each voice was fluent in that archaic and beautiful way of speaking. I found myself wishing more than once wishing I could participate in the conversation.

The ideas taught about the nature of love, immortality and continuation are quite brilliant as one could expect of Plato's writings. But one thing that truly captivated me was learning more about Socrates the man. Socrates has become iconic of philosophy and genius but who was he? I felt this book shined a great deal of light on that.

This book should be required listening in schools! And everyone should listen to it. Get this now if you're looking for a great course in philosophy.