Death in Venice
Classification added November 18, 2015Premiered June 16, 1973
At the Maltings during Aldeburgh Festival
Composer:
Benjamin Britten
Original Language:
English
Librettist:
Myfanwy Piper
Description:
Opera in Two Acts
Notes:
Libretto after story by Thomas Mann
Time Period:
1911
Place:
Munich, Venice and the Lido
Classification key
- L – Leading
- F – Featured
- S – Supporting
- B – Solo Bit
- CB – Chorus Bit
- MB – Mute Bit
| Role | Voice Part | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Gustav Von Aschenbach, a novelist | Tenor | L |
| *The Traveler | Bass-Baritone | |
| *The Elderly Fop | Bass-Baritone | |
| *The Old Gondolier | Bass-Baritone | |
| *The Hotel Manager | Bass-Baritone | |
| *The Hotel Barber | Bass-Baritone | |
| *Leader of the Strolling Players | Bass-Baritone | |
| *The Voice of Dionysus | Bass-Baritone | |
| The Voice of Apollo | Countertenor | S |
| Dancers/Mime | ||
| The Polish Mother (Lady of the Pearls) | Mime | |
| Tadzio, her son | Mime | |
| Her Two Daughters | Dancers | |
| Their Governess | Mime | |
| Jaschiu, Tadzio's friend | Dancer | |
| Dramatic Characters | ||
| Hotel Porter | Tenor | B |
| Strawberry-Seller | Soprano | B |
| English Clerk at the Travel Bureau | Baritone | B |
| Danish Lady | Soprano | CB |
| Street Singer - Strolling Player | Soprano | CB |
| Russian Mother | Soprano | CB |
| English Lady | Soprano | CB |
| Lace-Seller | Soprano | CB |
| linebreak | ||
| French Girl | Soprano | CB |
| Newspaper-Seller | Soprano | CB |
| Street Singer - Strolling Player | Tenor | CB |
| Glass-Seller | Tenor | CB |
| Two Gondoliers | Tenors | CB (each) |
| Two Americans | Tenors | CB (each) |
| Steward | Baritone | CB |
| Lido Boatman | Baritone | CB |
| Guide | Baritone | CB |
| Hotel Waiter | Baritone | CB |
| Restaurant Waiter | Baritone | CB |
| German Father | Baritone | CB |
| Gondolier | Baritone | CB |
| Polish Father | Baritone | CB |
| Russian Father | Bass | CB |
| Priest in St. Mark's | Bass | CB |
| Flower-Seller | Soprano | CB |
| Tourist Woman | Soprano | CB |
| Two Venetian Shop-Girls | Mezzo-Sopranos | CB (each) |
| Six Young Boys on Boat to Venice | 3 Tenors, 3 Baritones | CB |
| Post Card-Seller | Tenor | CB |
| Photographer | Baritone | CB |
| 6 Tourists | Sopranos, Mezzo, Tenors, Baritone, Bass | CB (each) |
Minimum Chorus: 36
Divisi: SATB
Chorus Notes:
* These roles are performed by the same artist = L.
All above solo roles classified as CB are taken from the Chorus. Other Venetians, Hotel Guests, and Waiters, Gondoliers and Boatman, Choir in St. Mark’s Tourists, Followers of Dionysus, Street Vendors, Beggars, Youths and Girls, guides, etc.
Dancers, and Mime also include the following: Other Boys and Girls, Beach Attendants, Strolling Players, Children who play on the Beach, Polish and Russian Children, etc.