Hermann Hesse - The Glass Bead Game

Episodes

EpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
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01Seeds Of Unrest2010071820131103 (BBC7)
20131104 (BBC7)
20141002 (BBC7)
20141003 (BBC7)
20240420 (BBC7)
Elite intellectual Joseph Knecht feels compelled to rebel against the utopian society he once idolised.

Hermann Hesse's classic futuristic novel.

Joseph Knecht is a rising star in the Castalian Order, a band of elite intellectuals who live a closeted life of study and Glass Bead Game playing. But Joseph's elevation to one of the highest and most respected ranks of The Order coincides with a crisis of conscience, as his ever-deepening doubts about this idealistic and sanitised society threaten to topple its very foundations.

Joseph Knecht - Tom Ferguson

Young Joseph - Aidan Parsons

Music Master - Malcolm Raeburn

Teacher/Van Der Trave - Terence Mann

Fritz - Toby Hadoke

Father Jacobus - David Fleeshman

Elder Brother/Bertram - Jonathan Keeble

String Player - Kevin Flynn

Dramatised by Lavinia Greenlaw

Producer: Charlotte Riches

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

Elite intellectual Joseph Knecht rebels against the utopian society he once idolised.

Elite intellectual Joseph Knecht feels compelled to rebel against the utopian society he once idolised. Stars Derek Jacobi.

Hermann Hesse's classic novel is set in a futuristic, utopian society. This two-part dramatisation is by Lavinia Greenlaw and stars Derek Jacobi.

Joseph Knecht is a rising star in the Castalian Order, a band of elite intellectuals who live a closeted life of study and Glass Bead Game playing. But Joseph's elevation to one of the highest and most respected ranks of the Order coincides with a crisis of conscience, as his ever deepening doubts about this idealistic and sanitised society threaten to topple its very foundations.

The Glass Bead Game was Hesse's final major work. While recognised in his own lifetime (winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1946), he found a new generation of young readers after his death. His work was championed by the heroes of the counter-culture of the 1960s including Timothy Leary, and during the 1970s Hesse became extremely widely read and translated.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in 2010.

But Joseph's elevation to one of the highest and most respected ranks of The Order coincides with a crisis of conscience.

His ever-deepening doubts about this idealistic and sanitised society threaten to topple its very foundations...

Hermann Hesse's classic novel set in a futuristic, utopian society - first published in 1943.

Starring Derek Jacobi and Tom Ferguson.

Dramatised in two parts by Lavinia Greenlaw

String Player: Kevin Flynn

[R4 BD=20100724

02Growing Doubts2010072520131110 (BBC7)
20131111 (BBC7)
20141003 (BBC7)
20141004 (BBC7)
20240427 (BBC7)
Dramatisation of Hermann Hesse's classic novel set in a futuristic, utopian society.

Starring Derek Jacobi.

Joseph Knecht is a rising star in the Castalian Order, a band of elite intellectuals who live a closeted life of study and Glass Bead Game playing. But Joseph's elevation to one of the highest and most respected ranks of the Order coincides with a crisis of conscience, as his ever deepening doubts about this idealistic and sanitised society threaten to topple its very foundations.

As Magister Ludi, Joseph Knecht begins to plan for the forthcoming Glass Bead Game. As excitement mounts, Joseph's doubts about the Castalian way of life are compounded by his newly acquired position.

Biographer...Derek Jacobi

Joseph Knecht...Tom Ferguson

Fritz...Toby Hadoke

Music Master...Malcolm Raeburn

Plinio...David Seddon

Helena...Olwen May

Tito...Oliver Gomm

Dramatised by Lavinia Greenlaw

Producer: Charlotte Riches

Joseph's doubts about the Castalian way of life are compounded by his new position.

As excitement mounts for the forthcoming Glass Bead Game, Joseph's doubts about the Castalian way of life are compounded by his newly acquired position.

Dramatised by Lavinia Greenlaw.

Joseph Knecht ....Tom Ferguson

Fritz ....Toby Hadoke

Music Master.... Malcolm Raeburn

Helena - Olwen May

Tito - Oliver Gomm

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

Joseph Knecht's doubts about the Castalian way of life are compounded by his newly acquired position. Starring Derek Jacobi.

[R4 BD=20100731