A performance in French of Acts 3 and 4 of Racine's tragedy which was broadcast in English on Thursday, December 9
Characters in order of speaking:
Produced by Georges Hacquard on gramophone records in the series
L'Encyclopédie Sonore
Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, has returned to his kingdom of Epirus with Andromache. Hector's widow, and her little son among his captives. He has fallen in love with Andromache. The Greeks, alarmed lest Hector's son should grow up to lead the revenge of the Trojans, have sent Orestes to urge that Pyrrhus fulfil his vow to marry Hermione, the daughter of Menelaus and Helen and that he kill Hector's little son. Act! begins at the point where Pyrrhus, having failed to persuade Andromache to marry him, has at last consented to marry Hermione, who deeply loves him and is in turn loved by Orestes. Orestes, who had secretly hoped that Pyrrhus would refuse Hermione's hand, is enraged by this news.
Third broadcast followed by an interlude at 7.25