The turning is the 27th turn of the screw chris knight. Between 1955 and 2001, there were three feature film adaptations and seven teleplay versions of the the turn of the screw for u. The turn of the screw by britten, benjamin from amazons classical music store. The following year, benjamin britten directed the turn of the screw opera. Benjamin britten musician music database radio swiss. 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. In 20, to mark the anniversary of britten s birth, decca released a set of 65 cds and one dvd, benjamin britten complete works. Pdf the turn of the screw download full pdf book download. The turn of the screw is an unusual subject for an opera, with hints of homosexuality, incest and pedophilia but operas like peter grimes and billy buddy have suggestions of homosexuality. The corruption of children was something that both fascinated and appalled britten. The turn of the screw is one of henry james easiest novel to read, and also one of the scariest books ever, for its sense of suspense and that way to play with your nerve.
On disc, the voice heard here is simply too slight to cope with brittens writing. Just as the turn of the screw was widely recognised almost instantly as a potential classic, so this recording, made within months by members of the original cast, has been deservedly treated as a. Musically fine, dramatically disappointing version of benjamin britten s masterpiece. Get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music sports gaming movies tv shows news live fashion. Regents park open air theatre and english national opera rediscover benjamin brittens the turn of the screw the story of unearthly encounters at a remote country house, and of a young governess desperate to protect her children, finds chilling new levels of suspense in this unique outdoor production at regents park open air theatre. The turn of the screw 1954, opus 54, an opera in a prologue and two acts, libretto by myfanwy piper after the story by henry james, london. The turning is the 27th turn of the screw national post. Britten turn of the screw 1982 filmcomplete youtube. 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. With michelle dockery, eva sayer, josef lindsay, dan stevens. The production will feature juilliard singers and the juilliard orchestra, conducted by steven osgood and directed by john giampietro. Benjamin britten peace and conflict this feature length dramadocumentary tells the story of the pacifism that was at the core of brittens life and work. The opera tells the story of a governess who is charged with the care of two young children, miles and flora. Corruption of innocence is the theme of benjamin brittens masterly adaptation of the henry james ghost story.
He was the youngest of four children, with a brother, robert 1907. The turn of the screw translates superbly to television and film thanks to its cinematic succession of swift scenes, not. Based on henry jamess novel of the same name, its an old fashioned ghost story that touches on issues of a very contemporary nature. Edward benjamin britten 22 november 19 4 december 1976 britten was born, by happy coincidence, on st. Peter pearsjennifer vyvyanarda mandikiandavid hemmingsoliver dyerjoan crossenglish opera group orchestrabenjamin britten decca 425 6722. Benjamin britten 191976 the turn of the screw 1954 the governess miah persson prologuepeter quint toby spence mrs grose susan bickley miss jessel giselle allen flora joanna songi miles thomas parfitt london philharmonic orchestrajakub hrusa stage director. 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 brittens splendid score. 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. A horror movie based on the henry james gothic novella wasnt screened for critics, but heres what the trailer tells us. Sadly, benjamin brittens score, while musically sophisticated, is just not interesting. He was a central figure of 20thcentury british classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw vostfr youtube. This book is designed to introduce the nonspecialist music lover to brittens opera, the turn of the screw. This is especially unfortunate because the story itself, originally by henry james, really is a classic thriller.
Britten and decca enjoyed a unique relationship with the composer recording most of his key works for the label. With lisa milne, mark padmore, diana montague, catrin wyn davies. Turn of the screw by benjamin britten tv movie 2004 imdb. The libretto is based on the 1898 novella the turn of the screw by henry james.
Edward benjamin britten, baron britten om ch 22 november 19 4 december 1976 was an english composer, conductor, and pianist. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw releases discogs. 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. Olive dyer in the original cast manages to sound convincingly girlish while encompassing the notes more strongly. 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. Cecilias day, at the family home in lowestoft, suffolk, england. The opera was commissioned by the venice biennale and. Valentine cunningham reveals what the latin bits in the turn of the screw really mean.
The work is based on the novel of the same name by henry james which britten had known for many years. Dallas benjamin brittens 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. This production from 1990 is a solid representation of benjamin brittens unsettling opera, based on the novel of the same name by henry james. The operatic version of the famous story about a governess who fears her two charges are possessed. Marcus institute for vocal arts will open its opera season with benjamin brittens the turn of the screw. He knows precisely how to pace this work to capitalise on not just the musical elements but also the horror inherent in the story. Deborah esch and jonathan warren, a norton critical edition, 2. Britten jennifer vyvyan, joan cross, peter pears, arda mandikian, olive dyer, david hemmings, the english opera group orchestra the turn of the screw. His bestknown works include the opera peter grimes 1945. 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. 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. Britten s first operatic recording was the turn of the screw.
And it has very cinematographic writing, when reading the most intense parts of the book you cant help but seeing it, it just scream for a movie adaptation. Filthy britten o arsehole, scrotum, penis, bless ye the lord. Farnes has done stunning britten work in the theatre with opera north, including a brilliant turn of the screw in 2010. Julian leang manages to catch miless seemingly equivocal nature, though not quite as well as david hemmings for britten. This excellent but not necessarily definitive production from glyndebourne worthily represents brittens the turn of the screw in the bluray format.
The best thing about this recording of brittens greatest chamber opera is the conducting of richard farnes. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A naive and sexually repressed young governess is haunted by the ghosts of previous occupants of a mansion. The extraordinary young actor alex lawther plays the part of the teenage pupil at greshams school, holt, already set on a career as a composer, whilst struggling to equate communism. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw lso live lso0749. Britten the turn of the screw 2004 rotten tomatoes. 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. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw fra musica fra007. The central chapter, on the musical style and structures of the. The complete works decca box set by various artists from amazons classical music store. Among the events were the release of a feature film benjamin britten peace and conflict, and a centenary exhibition at the. In the second half of the fifties, benjamin together with his companion makes a journey to the east, which is reflected in his later. Mrs grose, the housekeeper identifies the man as peter quint the masters.
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 the governess sees the figure of an unknown man on the tower and his face at the window. 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. 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. 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.
918 1306 97 881 453 609 402 839 341 617 688 21 336 1006 1551 1317 1497 193 74 154 1134 581 1403 94 1333 1292 686 1447 525 994 438 1455