Death in Venice - Benjamin Britten
Information about the opera Death in Venice by Benjamin Britten, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Britten's last opera is an intense, disturbing interpretation of Thomas Mann's book.
Synopsis
The opera is about a dying author who becomes so obsessed with a beautiful young boy in Venice that he refuses to escape the encroaching plague.
Recommended recordings on CD
Hickox/Langridge/Opie (Chandos CHAN 10280)
An excellent new production that challenges the classic version conducted by Steuart Bedford.
BBC Singers, City of London Sinfonia, conducted by Richard Hickox.
Cast: Philip Langridge (Gustav von Aschenbach), Alan Opie (Traveller etc), Michael Chance (Voice of Apollo).
Chandos CHAN 10280
Bedford/Pears/Shirley-Quirk (Decca 425 669-2)
The classic recording of this atmospheric opera.
English Chamber Orchestra, English Opera Group Chorus, conducted by Steuart Bedford, 1973.
Cast: Sir Peter Pears (Gustav von Aschenbach), John Shirley-Quirk (Traveller etc), James Bowman (Voice of Apollo).
Decca 425 669-2