Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra bring DEATH IN VENICE to Carré

This spring, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will be sharing the stage for the first time. In a joint production, Death in Venice, one of Thomas Mann's best-known novels is being adapted into a musical theatre performance. The direction is in the hands of Ivo van Hove, David Robertson is the conductor. Nico Muhly, "Shooting star" of American music, is writing new music especially for this production. Other works to be performed include compositions by Richard Strauss and Arnold Schönberg. The show will have its world premiere on Thursday 4 April 2019 and will exclusively play in the Royal Theatre Carré in the Netherlands until 13 April.

Thomas Mann is thirty-six when he meets a young man during a holiday in Venice. The event inspires him to write one of his most famous works, Der Tod in Venedig. In it, writer Gustav von Aschenbach falls in love with young Tadzio, who is spending his holiday at the Lido together with his mother. His fascination with the boy is so severe that he underestimates the danger of the cholera epidemic in the city. His intense and uncontrollable infatuation leads to his mental and physical downfall.
For this musical theatre production, Death in Venice is adapted by Ramsey Nasr, who expands the situation from the way it is written in Thomas Mann's novella. Nasr portrays an author who is going through a crisis. Secluded in his workroom, he creates a counterpart of himself: Von Aschenbach, the man he cannot or dares not be in his personal life. Nasr: 'There are a lot of parallels between Thomas Mann's personal life and the story he wrote. Actually, it is virtually a true copy. Why did he want to tell this story about this infatuation? Why does he let his character die? There must be a reason for that.'

Nico Muhly (1981) has composed new music for this production. This great American talent works with both classical artists as well as personalities from the world of pop. He has composed three operas, has written film music for The Reader and has previously been commissioned by, among others, The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In addition to this music, compositions from the time of Thomas Mann are also played, including works by Richard Strauss and Arnold Schönberg.

Ivo van Hove: 'Death in Venice is going to be a performance in which music and theatre play equal parts. I'm thrilled about being able to take on this challenge together with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.'