Backanterna/The Bacchae

The dualism of the principal character Dionysus: the tender, bright figure cherishing his Bacchae and the dreadfully punitive deity – a veritable Janus! The recording combines the original TV soundtrack with such dramatic effects of the opera as thunder, the rustling of garments, footsteps and so on.

There is quite a long history to the partnership between Börtz and Bergman. The formulation of their concrete ideas was preceded by correspondence between them, but after the summer of 1987 it was clear that their choice had fallen on The Bacchae. The soloists are the same as took part in the première performance at the Royal Opera, Stockholm, on 2nd November 1991. The lead part of the god Dionysus is taken by Sylvia Lindenstrand, while the role of the skeptical and therefore cruelly punished Pentheus is created by Peter Mattei.

Other members of the cast include Laila Andresson-Palme, Sten Wahlund, Anita Soldh, Berit Lindholm and Lena Hoel. Speech parts are taken by Carl Magnus Dellow, Per Mattson and Peter Stormare of the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. The orchestra, conducted by Kjell Ingebretsen, is that of the Stockholm Royal Opera.

A 100-page book with libretto in Swedish and English is included.