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. Like many others, i was saddened and worried by the list of unfortunate hardships that stroke the nyco in the past few years, but this wonderful. Valentine cunningham reveals what the latin bits in the turn of the screw really mean. Media in category the turn of the screw opera the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. The operatic version of the famous story about a governess who fears her two charges are possessed. Julian leang manages to catch miless seemingly equivocal nature, though not quite as well as david hemmings for britten. The turn of the screw music by benjamin britten libretto by myfanwy piper based on the story by henry james first performed on september 14, 1954 in venice. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw vostfr youtube.
The turn of the screw by benjamin britten, steuart bedford, aldeburgh festival ensemble, philip langridge, felicity lott from amazons classical music store. Edward benjamin britten, baron britten om ch 22 november 19 4 december 1976 was an english composer, conductor, and pianist. 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. However, delays caused by the writing of gloriana meant that the new chamber opera was postponed and, in the end, not presented at the biennale but at the festival of contemporary music. The turn of the screw opera for everyone the opera 101. 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. 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.
The work is based on the novel of the same name by henry james which britten had known for many years. 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. Britten turn of the screw vocal score pdf download free. The turn of the screw operathe turn of the screw is a 2. Britten the turn of the screw twelvetone theme tetrachords. This was the first recording of this work and it remains the gold standard by. List of compositions by benjamin britten wikipedia. Britten associates each variation with a further turn or tightening of the screw c. Turn of the screw the britten 1955 by benjamin britten. Turn of the screw by benjamin britten tv movie 2004 imdb. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw lso live lso0749. Characters the prologue tenor the governess soprano flora soprano, a young orphan girl miles treble, floras brother mrs.
English chamber opera composed by benjamin britten with a libretto by myfanwy piper. On sale through our online shop orders will be despatched by mail from our online shop. Benjamin britten the turn of the screw lso live lso0749 st. The best thing about this recording of brittens greatest chamber opera is the conducting of richard farnes. Benjamin brittens opera the turn of the screw is a masterpiece of atmosphere, ambiguity, and eerie. The night before miles goes away to school, flora sneaks out of bed to say goodbye. 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. Based on henry jamess novel of the same name, its an old fashioned ghost story that touches on issues of a very contemporary nature. Benjamin britten transforms the slightly gothic ghost story by henry james into a.
Miles turn of the screw flora turn of the screw summary. Both take place in time, both depend upon the procession of meanings which unfold before the reader or listener, both depend upon the reader or listener participating in the process of unfolding meaning, and. 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. A volta do parafuso ou a outra volta do parafuso portugal. The central chapter, on the musical style and structures of the. 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. The turn of the screw by benjamin britten and myfanwy piper.
Benjamin britten, colin davis, lilian watson, helen donath. Britten turn of the screw vocal score pdf swissdedal. 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. 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. The turn of the screw by benjamin britten on spotify. Benjamin brittens the turn of the screw musical and narrative structures are strikingly similar. This season the new york city opera presents 4 new productions. 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. The turn of the screw wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Britten jennifer vyvyan, joan cross, peter pears, arda mandikian, olive dyer, david hemmings, the english opera group orchestra the turn of the screw. The english opera group orchestra conducted by benjamin britten. The opera was commissioned by the venice biennale and given its world premiere on 1.
The turn of the screw brittenpiper works archive of. 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. Over the next three years the usually productive composer wrote only three works of significance. He knows precisely how to pace this work to capitalise on not just the musical elements but also the horror. Each scene is preceded by a variation, which tends to introduce the predominant musical material of that scene. This book is designed to introduce the nonspecialist music lover to brittens opera, the turn of the screw. The turn of the screw opera the turn of the screw is a 2. Released in celebration of the britten anniversary year, richard farnes, the music director of opera north who led their critically acclaimed production of the turn of the screw in 2010, conducts an allenglish cast in brittens most ingeniously crafted opera, including andrew kennedy, sally matthews, and 11year old michael claytonjolly in the role of miles. This book is designed to introduce the nonspecialist music lover to britten s opera, the turn of the screw. The turn of the screw 2 cds, an album by benjamin britten, sir peter pears, jennifer vyvyan, david hemmings, joan cross, english opera group 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 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. 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.
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. Deborah esch and jonathan warren, a norton critical edition, 2. 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. 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. Britten the turn of the screw 2004 rotten tomatoes.
The opera was commissioned by the venice biennale and. Organ advanced to difficult dapres the turn of the screw dhenry james. Turning the text into an opera had required major changes, owing to the transposition of a complex jamesian narrative form into a dramatic one. The first performance of benjamin brittens opera, based on henry jamess 1898. 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. After the harsh reception given by musical critics to his opera, gloriana 1953, benjamin britten was obviously affected and his creative output was drastically reduced. I was lucky to attend the opening matinee of one of these extra muros productions. Soloists include andrew kennedy, sally matthews, and 11year old michael claytonjolly in the role of miles. Britten had known henry jamess short story the turn of the screw on which the opera is closely based since his teens. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The following comparison of henry james the turn of the screw and benjamin brittens adaptation of this novella to the operatic stage reveals there are two oceans that are crossed. On sale through our online shop orders will be despatched by mail from. Benjamin brittens opera adaptation is faithful to james text, yet introducing fascinating elements.
The libretto is based on the 1898 novella the turn of the screw by henry james. This production from 1990 is a solid representation of benjamin brittens unsettling opera, based on the novel of the same name by henry james. Benjamin brittens reading of the turn of the screw. In addition, the music is founded on one theme, introduced in the prologue, which britten manipulates through 17 variations that grow in intensity as the plot develops through the 17 scenes. With eilene hannan, margaret haggart, anson austin, wendy dixon. Achetez the turn of the screw le tour decrou a petit prix. Winter words, song cycle for tenor details allmusic. Olive dyer in the original cast manages to sound convincingly girlish while encompassing the notes more strongly.
Benjamin britten the turn of the screw releases discogs. The turn of the screw from henry james to benjamin britten. The opera tells the story of a governess who is charged with the care of two young children, miles and flora. He was a central figure of 20thcentury british music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. Myfanwy piper was later the librettist for britten s later operas owen wingrave and death in venice. The turn of the screw vocal score by benjamin britten if you are looking for a book by benjamin britten the turn of the screw vocal score in pdf form, in that case. With lisa milne, mark padmore, diana montague, catrin wyn davies. September 2016, theater erfurt, studio musikalische leitung. This was the first recording of this work and it remains the gold standard by which all other recorded performances are measured. Farnes has done stunning britten work in the theatre with opera north, including a brilliant turn of the screw in 2010. On disc, the voice heard here is simply too slight to cope with brittens writing.
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