The Turn of the Screw - Keynotes & More
Britten
“[…] Henry James’s ghost tale, The Turn of the Screw, about a governess, the two children in her care and two dead servants, makes this chamber opera one of the most dramatically appealing. It also makes you think twice about seeing and believing.”
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Reviews & Articles
Inside Opera | The Turn of the Screw
Step into Britten’s haunting chamber opera: a chilling psychological thriller where innocence meets the uncanny. Set in a remote English estate, The Turn of the Screw follows a young governess, two mysterious children, and a spiral of ghostly suspicion. With its hypnotic twelve-tone score and gothic beauty, this opera will leave you questioning reality long after the music fades.
The Turn of the Screw House programme is now available online! Read biographies of the cast and crew, a synopsis, and so much more! Please note that the house programme is a large file size, and may take a moment to download.
Explore The Turn of the Screw’s Keynotes — now in a fresh new format for this season! Alongside articles by Robert Holliston and Alex Chen, you’ll find exclusive interviews, a Q1 Impact Report, and a special tribute to Gary Karr.
My sense of how he received this suffered for a minute from something that I can describe only as a fierce split of my attention—a stroke that at first, as I sprang straight up, reduced me to the mere blind movement of getting hold of him, drawing him close, and, while I just fell for support against the nearest piece of furniture, instinctively keeping him with his back to the window. The appearance was full upon us that I had already had to deal with here: Peter Quint had come into view like a sentinel before a prison. The next thing I saw was that, from outside, he had reached the window, and then I knew that, close to the glass and glaring in through it, he offered once more to the room his white face of damnation.
From the Archives: 1997’s The Turn of the Screw
We recently uncovered Pacific Opera Victoria’s 1997 program for The Turn of the Screw—a time capsule brimming with 90s flair. Inside, you’ll spot some familiar faces among the cast and creative team, captured at the height of scrunchies, bold patterns, and minimalist design. It’s a charming glimpse into how opera and style intertwined nearly three decades ago, reminding us that while productions evolve, the artistry and dedication behind them remain timeless (click on each image to make it larger).
Unpacking ‘The Turn of the Screw’ (Richard Farnes)
Richard Farnes of Garsingon Opera explains the structure of the theme & variations in Benjamin Britten’s ‘The Turn of the Screw’. Recording: “The Journey”, The Turn of the Screw (Bedford/Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble – Naxos)
Britten employs a twelve-tone theme that undergoes variations throughout the opera, symbolizing the tightening of the narrative’s psychological tension. This compositional technique contributes to the opera’s unsettling and claustrophobic atmosphere.
MYSTERY CLASSICS: THE TURN OF THE SCREW | BOOK & MOVIE RECOMMENDATIONS
Join horror enthusiast Kasha as she dives into a history of The Turn of the Screw’s original publications, as well various adaptations and book recommendations.