Britten, daniel harding, mahler chamber orchestra the turn of the screw. He was a central figure of 20thcentury british classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. Turning the text into an opera had required major changes, owing to the transposition of a complex jamesian narrative form into a dramatic one. Recorded in 1993,originally on the collins label,now released by naxos. Soloists include andrew kennedy, sally matthews, and 11year old michael claytonjolly in the role of miles. Classified as both gothic fiction and a ghost story, the novella focuses on a governess who, caring for two. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten om ch 22 november 19 4 december 1976 was an english composer, conductor, and pianist. 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, an album by benjamin britten, daniel harding on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. The turn of the screw by benjamin britten and myfanwy piper.
At some points the staging delved deeper into the operas subconscious than we have gone before the scene where peter quint tended to miles in the bath could have been lifted out of humphrey carpenters controversial biography of the composer but the absence of any sense of claustrophobia told against it. Benjamin britten musician music database radio swiss. He later studied under john ireland and arthur benjamin at the royal college of music in london and, while there, composed the set of choral variations a boy was born 1933. This season the new york city opera presents 4 new productions. Since its first publication, henry jamess the turn of the screw 1898 has always haunted the imagination of artists benjamin britten, jack clayton, amenabar and has been widely used as a source for television narratives dan curtis, us tv version starring colin firth, tim fywell. The operatic version of the famous story about a governess who fears her two charges are possessed. The opera was commissioned by the venice biennale and. Benjamin britten henry james glyndebourne festivals.
The opera tells the story of a governess who is charged with the care of two young children, miles and flora. Based on henry jamess novel of the same name, its an old fashioned ghost story that touches on issues of a very contemporary nature. Thats enough to sell quite a few copies of this set without any further comment, and for some people im sure, without. Edward white benson, father of the novelist ef, was the victorian archbishop of canterbury who devised the festival of nine lessons and. He was a central figure of 20thcentury british music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. Awardwinning tv director whose work ranged from opera to live coverage of winston churchills funeral the career of peter morley, who has died aged 91, epitomised the heyday of british television, from the advent of itv in 1955 to the multiplication of channels under way by the 1980s. With lisa milne, mark padmore, diana montague, catrin wyn davies. Britten, daniel harding, mahler chamber orchestra the turn. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw releases discogs. This is a wonderful recording of benjamin britten s chamber opera the turn of the screw based on a short story by henry james.
The libretto is based on the novella the turn of the screw by henry james. 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. The turn of the screw from henry james to benjamin britten. Benjamin brittens opera the turn of the screw is a masterpiece of atmosphere. 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. 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. Turn of the screw, chamber opera, details allmusic.
This contemporary opera based on henry james fabulously creepy novella and benjamin brittens 20th century masterpiece will be performed on friday, sept. The turn of the screw opera for everyone the opera 101. 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 work is based on the novel of the same name by henry james which britten had known for many years. Buy a cd or vinyl record and get 90 days free amazon music unlimited with the purchase. The turn of the screw by benjamin britten performed in. It is performed the aldeburgh festival ensemble conducted by steuart bedford.
Thats enough to sell quite a few copies of this set without any further comment, and for some people im sure, without having heard a note of the music. Regarded by many as the finest of all his stageworks, the turn of the screw, britten s final chamber opera, was written in the incredibly short period of just four months in 1954. The libretto is based on the 1898 novella the turn of the screw by henry james. 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. The turn of the screw wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. 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. Farnes has done stunning britten work in the theatre with opera north, including a brilliant turn of the screw in 2010. His bestknown works include the opera peter grimes1945, the war requiem 1962 and the orchestral.
Turn of the screw cambridge opera handbooks by howard, patricia at. The best thing about this recording of brittens greatest chamber opera is the conducting of richard farnes. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten, om, ch 22 november 19 4 december 1976 was an english composer, conductor and pianist. 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. He knows precisely how to pace this work to capitalise on not just the musical elements but also the horror. There are recordings of the turn of the screw by benjamin britten on file. He won a significant international reputation while remaining thoroughly english in inspiration, a feat that his immediate predecessors had been unable fully to achieve. Benjamin britten 19 1976 benjamin britten must be accepted as the most outstanding english composer working in the mid20th century. This production from 1990 is a solid representation of benjamin brittens unsettling opera, based on the novel of the same name by henry james. 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. Britten composed as a child and at the age of 12 began several years of study under the composer and teacher frank bridge. The turn of the screw by benjamin britten, steuart bedford, aldeburgh festival ensemble, philip langridge, felicity lott from amazons classical music store. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw lso live lso0749.
Myfanwy piper was later the librettist for brittens later operas owen wingrave and death in venice. Henry james, benjamin britten, the turn of the screw, opera adaptation, silence. 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. Seattle operas superb new production of the turn of the screw sustained the ambiguity and dramatic tension of benjamin brittens music drama, thanks to stage director peter kazaras, conductor constantin trinks, a thirteenmusician ensemble and an excellent cast of six seen oct. The idea for an opera on henry jamess ghost story the turn of the screw was brought to benjamin britten by myfanwy piper, a longtime friend and wife one of brittens favored production designers. Turn of the screw by benjamin britten 2004 war requiem in peenemunde 2003 owen wingrave 2001. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw lso live lso0749 st. Filthy britten o arsehole, scrotum, penis, bless ye the lord. This book is designed to introduce the nonspecialist music lover to britten s opera, the turn of the screw. In celebration of the britten anniversary year, richard farnes, music director of opera north, conducts an allenglish cast in brittens the turn of the screw his most ingeniously crafted opera. The turn of the screw the following year was an unqualified success.
Organ advanced to difficult dapres the turn of the screw dhenry james. Myfanwy piper was later the librettist for britten s later operas owen wingrave and death in venice. Valentine cunningham reveals what the latin bits in the turn of the screw really mean. Glyndebournes first the turn of the screw divided opinion. The idea for an opera on henry jamess ghost story the turn of the screw was brought to benjamin britten by myfanwy piper, a longtime friend and wife one of britten s favored production designers. Sep 26, 2007 1982 filmed version of britten s popular victoriangothic opera. 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. Dec 01, 2007 the turn of the screw coliseum, london wc2, tomorrow to sat. 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. In october 1898 it appeared in the two magics, a book published by macmillan in new york city and heinemann in london. I was lucky to attend the opening matinee of one of these extra muros productions. This is a wonderful recording of benjamin brittens chamber opera the turn of the screw based on a short story by henry james.
Basil coleman, director english opera group benjamin britten repertoire note 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. He later studied under john ireland and arthur benjamin at the royal college of music in london and, while there, composed the set. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The turn of the screw coliseum, london wc2, tomorrow to sat. Benjamin brittens 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 uses only instruments and six voices in this opera, but he creates a breathtaking variety of sounds from these resources. On sale through our online shop orders will be despatched by mail from. Because of its small scale the work is not played in the larger opera houses very often, but it is accepted as a masterpiece of the growing genre of chamber opera. The turn of the screw by benjamin britten on spotify.