Listening Guide

Connection to the Story: The opera opens with Gustav von Aschenbach meditating on his artistic fatigue. As a writer, he has always exercised self-discipline and control instead of abandoning himself to passion, but now he finds himself without inspiration.

Connection to the Story: Thinking that he was alone, Aschenbach suddenly notices a foreign Traveller watching him. The Traveller sings an aria describing an exotic landscape, one both beautiful and threatening, filling Aschenbach with a powerful desire to travel.

Connection to the Story: Taking a stroll on the beach, Aschenbach encounters a Polish family staying at his hotel, and takes a particular interest in their beautiful son. As the children play, he listens to the boy’s friends calling and discovers his name, Tadzio.

Connection to the Story: The hotel guests watch a troupe of strolling players perform a number of love songs which resonate with Aschenbach, who at this point has discovered his hopeless infatuation with Tadzio. The last performance is the troupe Leader’s Laughing Song.

Connection to the Story: Having decided to stay in Venice despite the imminent danger, Aschenbach has a dream in which the two Greek gods Apollo and Dionysus wage a metaphysical battle for his soul.