What is Death in Venice (opera)?
:''For the [[novella]] by [[Thomas Mann]] see ''[[Der Tod in Venedig]]'' '''''Death in Venice''''' is an [[opera]] by [[Benjamin Britten]]. It is based on the story ''Death in Venice'' (''Der Tod in Venedig'') by the [[Germany|German]] [[writer]] [[Thomas Mann]]. The libretto (words) for the opera was written by [[Myfanwy Piper]]. It was the last opera that Britten wrote. It was first performed at [[Snape Maltings]] near [[Aldeburgh]], [[England]] on [[June 16]], [[1973]]. Britten was too ill to conduct it himself. The main part of Aschenbach was sung by Sir [[Peter Pears]]. == The story of the opera == The story is supposed to take place in the year [[1911]]. It starts in [[Munich]], and then moves to [[Venice]]. The opera is divided into two acts. === Act I === Aschenbach is a famous German writer. He is getting old and starting to find it difficult to think of new ideas for stories. As he is walking in Munich he stops in front of a [[cemetery]]. He sees a traveller who is obviously from another country. This makes him think he ought to travel somewhere to get new ideas for his books. He takes a boat to Venice. On the boat he watches a group of young people. Their leader is showing off. Aschenbach realizes that, although their leader looks young, he is in fact old. He has dressed in clothes and used make-up to make him look young. Aschenbach does not like him. In Venice he is takes a [[gondola]], but the boatman does not take him where he wants to go. Aschenbach argues at first, but the boatman does not take any notice. Aschenbach arrives at the [[hotel]]. In the hotel he watches the people coming down to [[dinner]]. Suddenly he sees Tadzio. Tadzio is a young [[Poland|Polish]] boy who is unbelievably beautiful. Aschenbach realizes it is stupid for him to feel love for the boy, but he cannot get the boy out of his mind. Aschenbach watches Tadzio playing on the sandy [[beach]]. When he notices that the boy (like many Polish people) hates the [[Russia]]n guests, he realizes that the boy is not quite perfe