Photo: Bengt Wanselius
© Bengt Wanselius

The libretto for the opera is based on Euripides' play The Bacchae. The play centres on the conflict between two principles, represented by the god, Dionysus, and King Pentheus. The cult of Dionysus is associated with orgies, giving in to desire, obsession, secret rituals and the night, whereas Pentheus stands for manliness, common sense, purity and order. Central to the plot are the bacchae, a group of women who worship Dionysus. Disguising himself as a beautiful youth, Dionysus lures Pentheus to abandon his moral principles, persuading him to spy on the orgies of the bacchae. This is strictly forbidden, and always results in revenge being wreaked on anyone who dares to do so. Tragedy ensues. In the conflict between the god and the king, the bacchae are sacrificed. Blinded by ecstasy, the baccha Agave tears apart her own son Pentheus in violent revenge for his voyeuristic act.

Photo: Anders Roth
© Stiftelsen Ingmar Bergman

The original text was re-worked, and the bacchae themselves became the focus of the action. Bergman wrote an account of the previous history of the various women, which was printed in the Royal Swedish Opera programme. Instead of an anonymous group, Bergman turned the women into individuals who each behave and perform in an individual way. In other words, the group was an individualised collective, portrayed by carefully selected soloists. Bergman made an addition, creating a fourteenth baccha, Talatta, a non-speaking dance role performed by Mariane Orlando. Talatta functioned as the dynamic doppelganger for Dionysus.

Photo: Bengt Wanselius
© Bengt Wanselius

The opera The Bacchae was produced for three media. In addition to the opera performances, there was also a television version, and the record company Caprice turned the television soundtrack into a double CD. In addition, Bergman subsequently staged a pure theatre version of Euripides' drama.

Reference 

Henrik Sjögren, Lek och raseri: Ingmar Bergmans teater 1938-2002 (Carlssons Bokförlag 2002)