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.

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.

An easy and quick listen for an afternoon

It’s a nice way to take in this classic work of literature. Actors are believable and emphatic. Translation is modern yet nuanced. Content had me gasping at several moments

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.

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.