Soloists include andrew kennedy, sally matthews, and 11year old michael claytonjolly in the role of miles. Jun 09, 2011 glyndebourne festival opera, cond edward gardner. Britten was originally interested in the work because it dealt with one of the main themes of his works, the corruption of innocence. Katie mitchells atmospheric and innovative film of the opera returns to the late 19th century. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw padmore milne wyn. A governess put in charge of two young children begins to see the ghost of her dead predecessor. Britten s opera resolves this unequivocally in favour of their reality. The turn of the screw translates superbly to television and film thanks to its cinematic succession of swift scenes, not. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw prologue philip langridge quint robert tear governess helen donath miles michael ginn flora lilian watson mrs. The turn of the screw introduction henry james and spooky ghosts might not, at first glance, seem like a match made in heaven. This bbc film version of benjamin brittens darkly dramatic opera the turn of the screw which was based on a novella by henry james was brought to the screen by director katie mitchell. Britten had known henry jamess short story the turn of the screw on which the opera is closely based since his teens. Brittens opera on the story is noted for its particularly tight organization and exceptional economy of musical means.
However in the present case, it is a wonderful success. For all the psychological play of character in brittens the turn of the screw, it should never be forgotten that on a basic level the opera is a ghost story. Decca celebrates 100 years since the birth of englands greatest 20th century composer, benjamin britten, with a unique limited edition 65cd box containing his entire canon of works. The turn of the screw is brittens third opera for chamber orchestra, and exhibits the extensive solos and duets he preferred to emphasize the intimacy of what was already a chamber orchestra.
The opera tells the story of a governess who is charged with the care of two young children, miles and flora. The title, britten felt, was superbly apt and unalterable. Jan 08, 20 this excellent but not necessarily definitive production from glyndebourne worthily represents britten s the turn of the screw in the bluray format. The decision to set the production in the 1950s, when the opera was composed, rather than in the victorian era, has definite benefits but disadvantages as well.
Britten s the turn of the screw had a successful premiere and was fairly quickly performed around the world. Farnes has done stunning britten work in the theatre with opera north, including a brilliant turn of the screw in 2010. Based on a henry james novella, this ghost story probes a very current theme one found in the film l. Benjamin britten s brilliant chamber opera turn of the screw is based on the ghost story by henry james as molded into a libretto by myfanwy piper. Britten s other works range from orchestral to choral, solo vocal, chamber and instrumental as well as film music. In the end, britten wrote the opera in just four months and his assistant made a vocal score of each scene as it was completed so that the singers. The turn of the screw is a british television film based on henry jamess 1898 ghost story of the same name. The turn of the screw britten opera north duration. The plot of the turn of the screw truly is as described in the operas prologue a curious story. Miller, the turn of the screw, the beast in the jungle. With caroline pegg, jodhi may, colin firth, pam ferris. Flora recites the names of the seas of the world, finishing with the dead sea.
The turn of the screw traces the story of a young, inexperienced governess who is charged with the care of miles and flora, two small orphaned children abandoned by their uncle at his grand country house. A guest named douglas introduces a story that involves two childrenflora and milesand his sisters governess, with whom he was in love. Britten jennifer vyvyan, joan cross, peter pears, arda mandikian, olive dyer, david hemmings, the english opera group orchestra the turn of the screw. The operatic version of the famous story about a governess. Regarded by many as the finest of all his stageworks, the turn of the screw, brittens final chamber opera, was written in the incredibly short period of just four months in 1954. In celebration of the britten anniversary year, richard farnes, music director of opera north, conducts an allenglish cast in britten s the turn of the screw his most ingeniously crafted opera. The famous ambiguity of henry jamess the turn of the screw is whether the ghosts that take possession of the two children are real or merely figments of the young governesss imagination. The turn of the screw is an 1898 horror novella by henry james that first appeared in serial format in colliers weekly magazine january 27 april 16, 1898. Valentine cunningham reveals what the latin bits in the turn of the screw really mean.
A boy was born 1933 benjamin britten s first fullblown masterpiece displayed an astonishing originality and surefootedness that was to suffuse his entire musical life britten wasnt a child prodigy to the degree that mozart, mendelssohn or korngold were, but he. Based on henry jamess novel of the same name, its an old fashioned ghost story that touches on issues of a very contemporary nature. Organ advanced to difficult dapres the turn of the screw dhenry james. During the current health crisis, the most frightening sound one might hear at a theatre is someone coughing. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw lso live lso0749 st. Britten the turn of the screw 2004 rotten tomatoes. In this version, the britten opera dons a dress the new.
This recording was made in 1954 before the advent of stereo and if the opera were large scale it may have suffered in sound when compared to todays technical advances. The london symphony orchestras concert performances of the turn of the screw. Perhaps most famously in the form of 1961 horror film the innocents, starring. Britten and decca enjoyed a unique relationship with the composer recording most of his key works for the label. The operatic version of the famous story about a governess who fears her two charges are possessed. The turn of the screw benjamin britten helen field youtube. Britten s the turn of the screw is the only operatic setting of henry james i know of, and what a remarkable work it is. Commissioned and produced by the bbc, it was first broadcast on 30 december 2009, on bbc one.
This excellent but not necessarily definitive production from glyndebourne worthily represents britten s the turn of the screw in the bluray format. The work is based on the novel of the same name by henry james which britten had known for many years. See a complete list of the characters in the turn of the screw and indepth analyses of the governess, mrs. The original version of turn of the screw, featuring the fluid tenor of the composers lover peter pears, is still the standout. A blustery autumn evening at glyndebourne is as good a backdrop as any for the turn of the screw, britten s chamber opera based on the henry james ghost story. The turn of the screw is a 20thcentury english chamber opera composed by benjamin britten.
Heres our introductory guide to brittens chilling opera. A guide to benjamin brittens intense opera the turn of the screw. So a striking new film version of benjamin britten s chamber opera the turn of the screw, made for bbc television and now available from opus arte, seems especially notable. Jonathan kents production of britten s ghost story is revived to haunting effect, with standout central performances from the children tim ashley. Experience the 2011 glyndebourne festival production of benjamin brittens twoact opera the turn of the screw, whose libretto by myfanwy piper is based on the book by henry james. Benjamin britten, the complete string quartets 2015 britten s peter grimes 2014. With eilene hannan, margaret haggart, anson austin, wendy dixon. As it lifts and pivots through the action its purpose is as.
The turn of the screw was an immediate success and has become accepted as a masterpiece and one of brittens greatest works. Jan 22, 2010 turn of the screw is adapted from the henry james story, originally published in 1898. Some of the oldest passages in the libretto of benjamin brittens opera the turn of the screw are the latin bits the most cryptic parts of what is a rather mysterious work. He also enjoyed a form that allowed him flexibility since it could include several literary genres. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten om ch 22 november 19 4 december 1976 was an english composer, conductor, and pianist. The turn of the screw is a thinking persons opera that will haunt you long after the performance ends. Filthy britten o arsehole, scrotum, penis, bless ye the lord. Three years later, james turned this into the turn of the screw you can download the. The turn of the screw opera for everyone the opera 101. Some of the oldest passages in the libretto of benjamin britten s opera the turn of the screw are the latin bits the most cryptic parts of what is a rather mysterious work. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw releases discogs. An anonymous narrator recalls a christmas eve gathering at an old house, where guests listen to one anothers ghost stories.
The best thing about this recording of brittens greatest chamber opera is the conducting of richard farnes. The orchestras former principal conductor had been scheduled to leave us a live recording to go alongside his earlier philips set of the opera 184, 996. The turn of the screw translates superbly to television and film thanks to its cinematic succession of swift scenes, not to mention its suggestive, supernatural element. Brittens compositions in all genres remain in the canon. The corruption of innocence as communicated through benjamin. The turn of the screw is a 20thcentury english chamber opera composed by benjamin britten with a libretto by myfanwy piper, wife of the artist john piper, who had been a friend of the composer since 1935 and had provided designs for several of the operas. The turn of the screw is a disturbing work, a novelty in the opera world for being something of a horror story with genuine chills. Media in category the turn of the screw opera the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Britten turn of the screw 1982 filmcomplete youtube. Sir benjamin britten s opera turn of the screw is a chamber opera based on the henry james novella of the same name, adapted as a libretto by myfanwy piper. The libretto is based on the 1898 novella the turn of the screw by henry james. This is a terrific opera video, a rare success due not only to excellent performances and fine production courtesy of the bbc, producer fiona morris, and director katie mitchell, but above all to britten s splendid score. One is a worldfamous writer whose hefty novels the portrait of a lady weighs in at 672 pages are studies in psychology, who spent most of his career pitting the provincialism and optimism of the american mindset against the worldweary sophistication of the. He knows precisely how to pace this work to capitalise on not just the musical elements but also the horror.
The novella was adapted for the screen by sandy welch, and the film was directed by tim. In particular his operatic legacy is a lasting one. Three years later, james turned this into the turn of the screw you can download the text of his novella here or here, while theres an interesting introductory essay to it here. Britten recorded in his diary entry for 1 june 1932 when he was 18 listening to a bbc radio broadcast of a wonderful, impressive but terribly eerie and scary play the turn of the screw by henry james, and in january the following year he read jamess. Katie mitchells atmospheric and innovative film of the opera returns to the late. A volta do parafuso ou a outra volta do parafuso portugal. The transference of opera to film can be fraught with difficulties. With lisa milne, mark padmore, diana montague, catrin wyn davies. The turn of the screw was directed by ben bolt, whose previous television experience includes the series prime suspect and an unsuitable job for a woman.
Benjamin britten the turn of the screw vostfr youtube. This book is designed to introduce the nonspecialist music lover to britten s opera, the turn of the screw. Dallas benjamin britten s the turn of the screw opened friday night, presented by the dallas opera at the winspear opera house, in a production that is both cleverly conceived and subtly. Tjenryjamess celebrated ghost story the turn of the screw. Coming attractions for you 2020s most anticipated movies. The turn of the screw is a detective novel, an autobiographical tale and a ghost and horror story, as james himself admitted in the preface to his work james, 2001. The story takes place in the mid19thcentury english country home, bly and is based on the novella by henry james, the turn of the screw. A great frame of leaded glass dominates the action in jonathan kents glyndebourne production of britten s the turn of the screw. It presents a challenge to opera companies whose audiences are used to more pomp and splendor than this delicate, psychological thriller that depends on cerebral attention as opposed to. Brittens radiant, haunting music calling for virtuoso playing and singing suggests innocence and corruption at the same time, and it builds with the story to a heartstopping climax. The opening chapters by vivien jones and patricia howard deal with the literary source of the opera oamess novella, the structure of the libretto, and the technique by which a short story was transformed into an opera.
The turn of the screw wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. With philip salmon, anne williams king, colin mclean, paula bishop. Classified as both gothic fiction and a ghost story, the novella focuses on a governess who, caring for two. As the years pass and different interpretations are given which have their own validity, it appears that the opera becomes more complex and more rewarding. The turn of the screw historic complete recording by benjamin britten, sir peter pears, jennifer vyvyan, david hemmings, olive dyer, joan cross, arda mandikian, english group orchestra. Turn of the screw by benjamin britten tv movie 2004 on imdb. Get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music sports gaming movies tv shows news live fashion. Benjamin britten score myfanwy piper libretto after the story by henry james opera north the lowry, salford 11 march 2020. Jan 04, 2002 some of the oldest passages in the libretto of benjamin britten s opera the turn of the screw are the latin bits the most cryptic parts of what is a rather mysterious work. Benjamin britten 191976 when benjamin britten died on december 4, 1976, apparently he was worried that he would be forgotten. Among the best known of these is the turn of the screw 1954. Britten the turn of the screw twelvetone theme tetrachords. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.
The governess sees the figure of an unknown man on the tower and his face at the window. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Indeed, the piece is so well scripted that the most difficult job for the director must be simply to leave the bloody thing alone and let the music work its magicand. Its popularity ever since is easy to underestimate. The turn of the screw is a novella by henry james that was first published in 1898. Turn of the screw by benjamin britten tv movie 2004 imdb. This production from 1990 is a solid representation of benjamin brittens unsettling opera, based on the novel of the same name by henry james.