Composer Andre Tchaikowsky first made his mark in Great Britain as a concert pianist. Despite his immense success, Tchaikowsky's real passion was for composition. The Merchant of Venice, after William Shakespeare's play of that name, was to remain his only opera.

The score is intricate and dark, with moments of both brutality and lyricism, not to mention flashes of acerbic wit. It defies attribution to any one definite style of 20th-century composition, intelligently drawing on Benjamin Britten, Igor Stravinsky and Claude Debussy.

The tried and trusted team behind Keith Warner and an elite cast make the posthumous premiere at this year's Bregenz Festival "a restitution to remember" (London Telegraph).

Cast:
- Duke of Venice: Richard Angas
- Antonio: Christopher Ainslie
- Bassanio: Charles Workman
- Salerio: Adrian Clarke
- Solanio: Norman Patzke
- Gratiano: David Stout
- Lorenzo: Jason Bridges
- Shylock: Adrian Erod
- Jessica: Kathryn Lewek
- Portia: Magdalena Anna Hofmann
- Nerissa: Verena Gunz
- A boy: Hanna Herfurtner
- Prince of Aragon: Juliusz Kubiak
- Prince of Morocco: Elliot Lebogang Mohlamme

"Under the direction of soundscaper Erik Nielsen this opera sounds wonderfully brilliant, light-footed, with comedic swing" - Die Zeit

This is the World Premiere of the opera.

Picture format: NTSC - 16:9
Sound format: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.0
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: English, German, French, Polish
Booklet notes: English, German
Running time: 160 mins performance + 45 mins documentary
German FSK: 0
Worldwide available