The Turn of the Screw - opera

Description

"It is a strange story. Written in faded ink – by the hand of a woman, the governess of two children, long ago." Set in a haunted mansion, The Turn of the Screw (1898), the famous ambiguous novella by Henry James, intersects themes that have always inspired Benjamin Britten: childhood, innocence, unsettling fantasy, corrupting evil, fevered imagination. In this chamber opera created at La Fenice in Venice in 1954, the orchestration – for only thirteen instrumentalists – has a unique and absolutely unheard-of sound color. The composer blends the fresh melodies of childhood with the strange sounds of the harp, celesta, and glockenspiel, which herald the eruption of the fantastic into the real world. Are the orphans Miles and Flora truly enchanted by the ghosts of depraved former servants? Or are they merely the fantasies of their governess? Does the specter of the dark Peter Quint exist? With a remarkable sense of drama, Britten maintains the mystery. This is one of the secrets of the magic of his music, which, like all his operas, probes the soul to the inexpressible. The exciting staging by Richard Brunel, highly cinematic in inspiration, will investigate and heighten the suspense of this closed setting. The Lausanne Chamber Orchestra will be conducted by the Australian conductor Alexander Briger, a recognized specialist in this masterpiece.

Highlights

• Chamber opera by Benjamin Britten
• Unique orchestration for thirteen instrumentalists
• Directed by Richard Brunel

General Information

The Turn of the Screw is a haunting opera based on Henry James's novella, exploring themes of childhood and fantasy. Performed at the Opéra de Lausanne, it features the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra conducted by Alexander Briger.

Location

Avenue du Théâtre 12, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland

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