Hans Werner Henze was a 20th-century German composer of restless ambition, blending serialism with lyricism. "The Bassarids" is his 1966 opera based on Euripides' Bacchae—a confrontation between civilization and primal chaos, rendered through Henze's complex, sometimes violent musical language. This isn't straightforward opera; it's theatrical modernism that demands attention. Gerd Albrecht and the Berlin Radio Symphony conduct this 1991 recording with impressive precision and commitment, navigating Henze's intricate score with clarity. The performance captures both the music's intellectual ambition and its genuine dramatic power. For adventurous listeners ready for challenging 20th-century opera, this is profoundly rewarding.