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.