The article presents a little known opera (a ‘vaudeville’) of Benjamin Britten entitled The Golden Vanity (1966). The article presents the history of creation of the opera at the request of the Vienna Boys’ Choir singers, the history of the 17th century ballad, originally entitled “The Sweet Trinity”, which inspired the composer, and comments upon the historical sources of the text of the ballad. The libretto of the opera is analysed in detail with some comments on the original stage directions of the composer and actual performances.