Venice Revealed

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British writer and historian Peter Ackroyd leads an in-depth tour of the art, architecture, music, and theater of Venice, from Tintoretto to Vivaldi, Canaletto to Carnival. Interviews with preservationists reveal the desperate efforts underway to rescue the floating city from the ravages of time and the sea. "Insightful and absorbing"—Times (UK).  
 
 

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Explore the palazzos, churches, alleyways and canals of one of the world’s most seductive and mysterious cities. British writer and historian Peter Ackroyd leads an in-depth tour of the art, architecture, music, and theater of Venice, from Tintoretto to Vivaldi, Canaletto to Carnival. Interviews with preservationists reveal the desperate efforts underway to rescue the floating city from the ravages of time and the sea. "Insightful and absorbing"—Times (UK). 4 episodes; approx. 164 min. on 2 DVDs plus viewer’s guide. SDH subtitles.
 
 
An award-winning novelist and bestselling historian, Peter Ackroyd (London: The Biography) has written over 30 books and presented many TV documentaries. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

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Disc 1
Episode 1:The City as Architecture
Following the footsteps of 19th-century critic John Ruskin, Ackroyd examines several styles of Venetian architecture—now, as in Ruskin’s time, mere ghosts of the city’s glorious past. Nowhere does Venice’s association with death become more palpable than on the island where poets and composers lie buried.

Episode 2:The City as Art
With its soft, almost celestial light reflecting off the water, Venice has inspired countless artists. Ackroyd explores and analyzes their works—from the spiritual power and creative energy of Tintoretto in the Renaissance to the exquisitely serene cityscapes of Guardi and Canaletto in the 18th century.

Disc 2
Episode 3:The City as Music
Accompanied by British writer and researcher Micky White and other experts, Ackroyd delves into the work of the city’s most famous composer, Antonio Vivaldi, discovering his music as an expression of the city’s political, religious, and even commercial life.

Episode 4:The City as Theatre
With a tradition of street theatre stretching back to commedia dell’arte, Venice has long attracted performers, playwrights, librettists, and filmmakers. As Ackroyd discovers, the city embraces theatrical artifice most fervently during Carnival, when Venetians turn everyday life into a performance.
  • 12-page viewer’s guide with highlights, questions to consider, avenues for further learning, interview with Peter Ackroyd, story of the Great Flood of 1966, gondola facts, and more.
  • Biographies of Venetian architects, artists, playwrights, and composers
  • Venice on film and exclusive web extras
Packaging: Boxed set
Run Time: 164 minutes
Format: Widescreen
Number of discs: 2
Language: English
Subtitles: No
Color or B&W: Color
CC: No
SDH: Yes
Region Code: 1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Rating: NR
An award-winning novelist and bestselling historian, Peter Ackroyd (London: The Biography) has written over 30 books and presented many TV documentaries. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.