Death in Venice

Frustrated and exhausted, choreographer Aschenbach abandons his work, but a meeting with a mysterious stranger awakens his desire to travel. Thus, he arrives in Venice. On the Lido, a young man, Tadzio, captivates him, changing Aschenbach's approach to life and work. He transforms from a purely intellectual, controlled person into one who allows himself to experience emotions. From this, he draws new inspiration. Meanwhile, the cholera claims more and more victims in the Italian lagoon city. Nevertheless, Aschenbach decides to stay, to abandon his art,destroy his work – and find his death in Venice.

To highlight the duality in Aschenbach’s character, John Neumeier juxtaposes Johann Sebastian Bach’s strictly structured “Musical Offering” with the ecstatic compositions of Richard Wagner, which express AschenbachsDionysian side. Through this, he creates a profound portrait of an artist's soul.. Created by Neumeier for the Hamburg Ballet in 2003 and with stylish sets by designer Peter Schmidt, this full-length work takes the audience on an unforgettable journey to Venice.