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Music: Classical: Opera

Programme presenting rare and fascinating operatic performances

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Opera on 3: Britten 100: Death in Venice

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Music: Classical

Britten 100: Death in Venice

19/10/2013

BBC Radio 3 - Opera on 3, Britten 100: Death in Venice

Live from the Leeds Grand Theatre, an Opera North production of Britten's Death in Venice.

Live from the Grand Theatre in Leeds, Louise Fryer presents an Opera North production of Britten's final opera, Death in Venice. Alan Oke sings the role of Gustav von Aschenbach.

Britten 100:

In the composer's centenary year Louise Fryer introduces Britten's final opera, live from the Grand Theatre, Leeds. The production by the Japanese director Yoshi Oida was originally seen at the Aldeburgh Festival and is now performed by Opera North and conducted by their music director Richard Farnes.

Britten wrote of Death in Venice "It's either the best or the worst music I've ever written" later adding of the work "it's everything that Peter Pears and I have stood for."

The libretto is by Myfanwy Piper and is based on the novella by Thomas Mann and deals with the developing infatuation of an ageing writer for a young Polish boy staying with the rest of his family on holiday in Venice.

During the interval there's a chance to hear our Radio 3 Music Guide to the opera which will also be available to download.

7.00 Britten - Death in Venice Act I

8.20 Interval - Radio 3 Opera Guide to Death in Venice

8.40 Britten - Death in Venice Act II

Gustav von Aschenbach ..... Alan Oke (tenor)
Traveller/Elderly Fop/Old Gondolier/Hotel Manager/Hotel Barber/Leader of the Players/Voice of Dionysus ..... Peter Savidge (baritone)
Voice of Apollo ..... Christopher Ainslie (countertenor)
English Clerk ..... Damian Thantrey (baritone)

Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North
Richard Farnes (conductor).

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