Britten - Death in Venice / Tony Palmer, Robert Gard
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
This is a musically and visually superb treatment of a 20th-century masterpiece. Based on Thomas Mann's novella, Benjamin Britten's last opera is not only a story of hopeless, idealistic, vaguely homoerotic love; it touches on deep philosophical questions: the nature of beauty, the agony of creativity and the greater agony of its loss; the ravages of time, the conventions and rituals we devise to mask life's horrible vacuums; ultimately, the mysterious meaning of life and death.
The cast is small and excellent: Robert Gard is the aging writer, Christoph von Aschenbach, whose genius has dried up but seems about to revive in the contemplation of an aristocratic boy he encounters in Venice. John Shirley-Quirk contributes equally to the effect in a half-dozen cameo roles that he pioneered in the first production under Britten's supervision. Steuart Bedford conducted that premiere, working closely with the composer. Director Palmer takes full advantage of the film medium's freedom to make Venice a character--monumental and crumbling buildings, seascapes, canals, bridges, and gondolas; the visuals are often breathtaking. --Joe McLellan
Description
This extraordinary operatic adaptation of Thomas Mann's haunting novella powerfully conveys the book's dramatic impact. Robert Gard stars as Gustav von Aschenbach, an aging writer who visits Venice and sees a handsome boy whose beauty obsesses him. Completely bewitched and agonized, Gustav struggles with his desire to please the boy, but his blind passion leads to his humiliation and eventual downfall. Filmed in Venice, this production heightens the novella's strong sense of tortuous passion straining against the 19th century city's stifling atmosphere of unbearable oppression. Composer Benjamin Britten, who worked closely with conductor Steuart Bedford, meets the challenge of adapting this intriguing story with music that is a constant surprise and revelation.
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Britten - Death in Venice / Tony Palmer, Robert Gard
Starring: Britten , and Bedford Manufacturer: Image Entertainment ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD  General
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ASIN: B00006FMCI Release Date: 2002-09-17 |
Amazon.com
This is a musically and visually superb treatment of a 20th-century masterpiece. Based on Thomas Mann's novella, Benjamin Britten's last opera is not only a story of hopeless, idealistic, vaguely homoerotic love; it touches on deep philosophical questions: the nature of beauty, the agony of creativity and the greater agony of its loss; the ravages of time, the conventions and rituals we devise to mask life's horrible vacuums; ultimately, the mysterious meaning of life and death.The cast is small and excellent: Robert Gard is the aging writer, Christoph von Aschenbach, whose genius has dried up but seems about to revive in the contemplation of an aristocratic boy he encounters in Venice. John Shirley-Quirk contributes equally to the effect in a half-dozen cameo roles that he pioneered in the first production under Britten's supervision. Steuart Bedford conducted that premiere, working closely with the composer. Director Palmer takes full advantage of the film medium's freedom to make Venice a character--monumental and crumbling buildings, seascapes, canals, bridges, and gondolas; the visuals are often breathtaking. --Joe McLellan
Description
This extraordinary operatic adaptation of Thomas Mann's haunting novella powerfully conveys the book's dramatic impact. Robert Gard stars as Gustav von Aschenbach, an aging writer who visits Venice and sees a handsome boy whose beauty obsesses him. Completely bewitched and agonized, Gustav struggles with his desire to please the boy, but his blind passion leads to his humiliation and eventual downfall. Filmed in Venice, this production heightens the novella's strong sense of tortuous passion straining against the 19th century city's stifling atmosphere of unbearable oppression. Composer Benjamin Britten, who worked closely with conductor Steuart Bedford, meets the challenge of adapting this intriguing story with music that is a constant surprise and revelation.Customer Reviews:
Tadzio Too Robust.......2002-10-19
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