The original version of Theodorakis’ first lyric tragedy was completed in 1991 following three years of hard work. Meanwhile the composer has revised his opera several times, creating basically three versions of the same works. The material from “Medea” is therefore quite extensive. This recording is based on the last version from Meiningen.

Short Summery:
After Medea succeeded in killing her brother-in-law, Pelias, by trickery in order to avenge his deeds against her husband Jasons’s family, she was forced to flee to Corinth to King Creon with her husband and children, fearing revenge from the murdered man’s relatives. There Jason left Medea and married King Creon’s daughter in order to ensure a place of refuge for himself and the children. Out of passionate love for Jason and demoniac thirst for revenge, Medea concocts a horrible plan. Believing that it was the best way to avenge Jason’s unfaithfulness, she decides to kill her children. Although Medea is aware of her monstrous deed, she sticks firmly to her plan because she’s not able to rid herself of her feelings of rage and fury. With trickery, Medea succeeds in turning her plan into action: she pretends to be forgiving, but at the same time secures her exile and, through her children, sends Jason’s new wife a poisoned gown and a diadem as a wedding present. As she puts on the two, she’s consumed by fire. Then Medea kills her two children in order to triumph over Jason by presenting him with the corpses.

First Act (CD 1):
Nurse: "Medea lies here fasting..."
Medea: "From the house I have come forth..."
Creon: "I order you to take those sullen looks..."
Chorus Of Women: "Ah! poor woman, woe is you..."
Chorus: "I smell death!"
Medea: "I will beginn at the very beginning..."

(CD 2): Jason: "Your wearisome tongue caused a storm..."
Coryphaea: "Jason, you have arranged..."
Aegeus: "All hail, Medea!"
Medea: "Swear by the Earth,..."

Second Act:
Chorus: "May Hermes go with you safely..."
Jason: "I have come at your bidding..."
Chorus Of Women: "Nothing will save the poor bride..."
Paedagogus: " My lady, your children have been reprieved..."

(CD 3): Coryphaea-Chorus: "I have pursued graver..."
Messenger: "O Medea!"
Medea: "They must die, I will slay them..."
Chorus: "O Earth, O Sun whose beam lightens all!..."
Coryphaea: "O wretched woman!..."
Jason: " Women, is Medea inside,..."
Medea: "Why shake those dorrs, in search of the dead..."
Medea: "Your grief relieves mine..."
Medea-Jason: "O great Zeus"