Daniel Meadows

Death in Venice

16mm film version of the opera by Benjamin Britten, 1981, from the novella by Thomas Mann, 1911. Director of photography: Nic Knowland.

Aschenbach [Robert Gard] watches Tadzio’s family arrive for dinner at the hotel in Venice. Location filming. Charing Cross Hotel, London. 15 June 1981
Tony Palmer director, and Nik Knowland cinematographer, left, filming Vincent Redman [Tadzio]. Elstree Studios, 5 June 1981
Tadzio (Vincent Redman) and his family arrive for Venice hotel dinner. Location filming. Charing Cross Hotel, London. 15 June 1981
Lively revellers on the boat to Venice. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
Aschenbach [Robert Gard] on the boat to Venice, encounters the Elderly Fop [John Shirley-Quirk]. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
The Player King [John Shirley-Quirk], denies rumours of a plague in the city, Location filming. Charing Cross Hotel, London. 15 June 1981
Aschenbach [Robert Gard] after visiting the barber for a restoration of his youthful appearance with make-up. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
After dinner in Venice, travelling players entertain hotel guests. Location filming. Charing Cross Hotel, London. 15 June 1981
Aschenbach’s dream. Reason and beauty versus chaos and ecstasy. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
Aschenbach’s dream. Reason and beauty versus chaos and ecstasy. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
Tadzio [Vincent Redman] in Aschenbach’s dream. Reason and beauty versus chaos and ecstasy. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
Tadzio [Vincent Redman] in Aschenbach’s dream. Reason and beauty versus chaos and ecstasy. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
Aschenbach dreams: Voice of Apollo [James Bowman] and Dionysus. Reason and beauty vs. chaos and ecstasy. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
Audio Recording. Soloist John Shirley-Quirk [in multiple roles: Elderly Fop, Old Gondolier, Hotel Manager, Barber, Player King, Dionysus]. Elstree Studios, 29 December 1980
Principal soloist Robert Gard [Aschenbach], left, with executive producer Derek Brierley, audio recording sessions. Elstree Studios, 29 December 1980
Soloist James Bowman [the Voice of Apollo], during the audio recording session. Elstree Studios, 29 December 1980
Audio Recording. Members of the English Opera Group. Elstree Studios, 29 December 1980
Director Tony Palmer in the engineer’s truck during audio recording with the English Chamber Orchestra. Elstree Studios, 29 December 1980
Audio Recording. Steuart Bedford conducting the English Chamber Orchestra. Elstree Studios, 29 Dec 1980
Tony Palmer, director and editor, filming Death in Venice the opera by Benjamin Britten. Elstree Studios, 5 June 1981
John Shirley-Quirk (left), takes direction from Tony Palmer for his role as The Barber. Elstree Studios, 5 June 1981
Vincent Redman as Tadzio, Elstree Studios, 5 June 1981
Deanne Bergsma as Tadzio’s Mother, the ‘Lady of the Pearls’. Elstree Studios, 5 June 1981
Robert Gard [Gustav von Aschenbach], on the set of Death in Venice, film version of the Benjamin Britten opera, director Tony Palmer. Elstree Studios, 5 June 1981
Aschenbach dreams: Voice of Apollo [James Bowman] and Dionysus. Reason and beauty vs. chaos and ecstasy. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
Derek Brierley, executive producer, reading the score of the Benjamin Britten's opera Death in Venice, while using the rest provided for actors dressed in the kind of elaborate costumes which prevent them from sitting down. Elstree Studios, 14 June 1981
After dinner in Venice, travelling players entertain hotel guests. Location filming. Charing Cross Hotel, London. 15 June 1981

 

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