Cover of Master Builder

Master Builder

by Henrik Ibsen

Chapter 1 of 3 Act 1

0:00 54:20
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Running time
2 h 23 min
Language
English
Readers
Andy Minter (1934-2017), Arielle Lipshaw, Availle, Bruce Pirie, Elizabeth Klett and 3 others
Translated by
William Archer, Edmund Gosse

Chapters

About this recording

Henrik Ibsen's The Master Builder, first published in 1892, is about architect Halvard Solness, who despite personal tragedy (including the death of his two sons) has risen to the top of his profession. He has succeeded partly through ruthless competition and exploitation and partly through a seeming ability to force his will on others. His unhappy wife Aline mourns for their lost life, and resents his interest in various young women, including his bookkeeper Kaia Fosli. Solness disregards the ambitions of other architects, including Knut Brovik and his son Ragnar, and seeks solace in the advice of family physician and friend Dr. Herdal. With the entrance of Hilda Wangel, a young woman whom he met as a child ten years ago, his life acquires a new focal point, one that will mean the end of him. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

Cast:

Halvard Solness: Bruce Pirie

Aline Solness: Arielle Lipshaw

Dr. Herdal: Andy Minter

Knut Brovik: Lars Rolander

Ragnar Brovik: mb

Kaia Fosli: Availle

Hilda Wangel: Elizabeth Klett

Narrator: Guero

Audio edited by: Elizabeth Klett