Radio symphony orchestra stuttgartsteuart bedford stage director. The turn of the screw is something of an experiment for opera holland park, a move away from a familiar and successful operatic formula. Central city opera house, 124 eureka street when 2. The turn of the screw britten steuart bedford youtube. Felicity lott, philip langridge, aldeburgh festival ensemble steuart bedford collins 70302. I didnt know much about it, but it has come up a lot lately in my goodreads discussions and other books i have read. The turn of the screw, by henry james part 1 out of 3. Death in venice is arguably benjamin brittens most heartrending and personal opera. Classified as both gothic fiction and a ghost story, the novella focuses on a governess who, caring for two. England 18851915 a closer look at the turn of the screw. Michael hampe libretto by myfanwy piper based on the novel by henry james directed for.
Steuart john rudolf bedford, obe born 31 july 1939, london is a british orchestral and opera conductor and pianist. The turn of the screw, by henry james full text free book. The turn of the screw and daisy miller by james, henry and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It is performed the aldeburgh festival ensemble conducted by steuart bedford. A governess has been hired to care for two orphaned young children in. If you go what central city opera presents brittens the turn of the screw where. Steuart bedford bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. Books similar to the turn of the screw the turn of the screw. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from steuart bedford at the discogs marketplace.
This volume presents the text of the new york edition of jamess classic 1898 short novel along with critical essays that read the turn of the screw from contemporary readerresponse, psychoanalytic, gender, and marxist perspectives. Steuart bedford and the northern sinfonia approach the score with the love and care that have marked all their collins britten efforts, and the result is a fine addition to that series. The artistic director is steuart bedford, who led the premiere of death in venice and now shares the direction of brittens aldeburgh festival. Special features include a sixminute introduction to the opera and an eightminute promotional trailer. Vocally she sounds heavy and spread as she reaches higher in her range, and among all of the singers her diction is the weakest.
While this book could be considered a novel because it is a little longer than your typical novella, its still a quick read. The turn of the screw is another classic i have been meaning to read for years. Jul 02, 2014 a s if brittens turn of the screw needed to be made any creepier, annilese miskimmons new production turns it into a ghost story within a ghost story. Classified as both gothic fiction and a ghost story, the novella. Rosie lomas and ellie laugharne in the turn of the screw. Meanwhile, conductor steuart bedford makes the most of brittens chilling score. Susan grittons operatic roles have included susanna le nozze di figaro and zerlina don giovanni for glyndebourne festival and touring operas.
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. The turn of the screw by steuart bedford from amazons classical music store. This page lists all recordings of the turn of the screw by benjamin britten 1976. Steuart bedford notes on 12th january 1895 henry james noted a ghoststory told him at addington by the archbishop of canterbury, a tale of two young children left to the care of servants in an old countryhouse and first corrupted by them and then haunted by their ghosts. The turn of the screw, by henry james full text free. Benjamin britten, felicity lott, philip langridge, steuart bedford. Steuart bedford conducted an innovative production of peter grimes at the aldeburgh festival that has since been released in cinemas, on. Drawing on the true postwar history of houses like the fictional bly, miskimmon. The turn of the screw, opera holland park the arts desk. The turn of the screw steuart bedford on allmusic 2003. Steuart bedford bio, albums, pictures naxos classical.
The turn of the screw is a fireside tale of evil and mystery. Central city opera takes on a dark, dark turn of the screw. Overall the casts diction is quite good, but i was glad to have subtitles to check some of the words. Steuart john rudolf bedford, obe born 31 july 1939, london is a british orchestral and. Governess turn of the screw and lucia the rape of lucretia under steuart bedford at snape maltings. Steuart bedford ensures each essential sonic gesture is heard. Composed relatively late in his life and under very dire conditions he put off major surgery to finish it britten at the time clearly must have identified with the psychological and emotional dilemma of manns main character aschenbach given the scores many intensely inspired moments. 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. But its one that has generated the finest show yet this season, and revealed a company that can not only tackle the castofthousands blood and thunder of verismo, but also the miniature delicacy of britten.
Philip langridge prologuequint, felicity lott governess, sam pay miles, eileen hulse flora, phyllis cannan mrs grose, nadine secunde miss jessel aldeburgh festival ensemble, steuart bedford. Peter pears, alfred deller, owen brannigan, thomas hemsley, heather harper, elizabeth harwood, josephine veasey, helen watts, janet baker, benjamin luxon, john shirleyquirk, etc a midsummer nights dream, phaedra, the rape of lucretia, turn of the screw, death in. Indeed, brittens harmonisations and arrangements of the preexisting tunes, which he described as among our finest national. The turn of the screw is a short novel or a novella written by american writer henry james. A s if brittens turn of the screw needed to be made any creepier, annilese miskimmons new production turns it into a ghost story within a ghost story. In order to fully understand this text, we must look at the happenings of the time period in which james lived. Britten the turn of the screw arthaus dvd 100 199 ks. Pure evil colm toibin on the turn of the screw books.
The stuttgart radio symphony orchestrasteuart bedford a joint production of the royal opera house, covent garden and the cologne opera for the 1990 schwetzinger festspiele. Midsummer nights dream, phaedra, rape of lucretia, turn. A governess has been hired to care for two orphaned young children in their uncle s english country home. In october 1898 it appeared in the two magics, a book published by macmillan in new york city and heinemann in london. He is the brother of composer david bedford and of singer peter lehmann bedford and a grandson of liza lehmann. The work is based on the novel of the same name by henry james which britten had known for many years. English chamber orchestra, conducted by steuart bedford naxos 8. Helen fields governess displays youthful enthusiasm that quickly turns to anxiety, fear and. He is the brother of composer david bedford and of singer peter lehmann bedford and a grandson of liza lehmann bedford is particularly associated with the music of benjamin britten, and conducted the world premiere of death in venice in 1973. Filled with extraordinary drama, henry james story has been widely popular ever since its publication in 1898. The turn of the screw by benjamin britten performed in english conductor steuart bedford 1993stu orchestra aldeburgh festival ensemble prologue philip langridge quint philip langridge governess felicity lott miles sam pay flora eileen hulse mrs. Due to the fact that james lived in both america and england during his life, both locations histories must be addressed.
The turn of the screw by henry james was published in 1893 and it remains one of the bestknown and admired works of this great american writer. Peter pears, alfred deller, owen brannigan, thomas hemsley, heather harper, elizabeth harwood, josephine veasey, helen watts, janet baker, benjamin luxon, john shirleyquirk, etc a midsummer nights dream, phaedra, the rape of lucretia. Readings and music the supernatural in music, literature. Henry jamess the turn of the screw was published in 1898. The turn of the screw the story had held us, round the fire, sufficiently breathless, but except the obvious remark that it was gruesome, as, on. However, the librettist, myfanwy piper, and benjamin britten, working in close association, had attempted. Recorded in 1993,originally on the collins label,now released by naxos. The stuttgart radio symphony, conducted by steuart bedford, performs brittens score without faults. The precision of steuart bedfords conducting with the excellent city of london sinfonia gave a fine connection between orchestra and singers, and allowed the tension to build. Jul 18, 2012 if you go what central city opera presents brittens the turn of the screw where. Jul 23, 2015 this is a wonderful recording of benjamin brittens chamber opera the turn of the screw based on a short story by henry james. We use cookies for a number of reasons, such as keeping ft sites reliable and secure, personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to analyse how our sites are used.
Turn of the screw, opera holland park, ohp, july 2014. The story had held us, round the fire, sufficiently breathless, but except the obvious remark that it was gruesome, as, on christmas eve in an old house, a strange tale should essentially be, i remember no comment uttered till somebody happened to say that it was the only case he had met in which such a visitation had fallen on a child. Turning the text into an opera had required major changes, owing to the transposition of a complex jamesian narrative form into a dramatic one. I was surprised to find out that it is a gothic horror story. Steuart bedford has an affinity with britten, and indeed there is also a dvd of him conducting this opera at the schwetzinger festival in 1990 on arthaus 100199. Next part 2 the text is from the first american appearance in book form.
The turn of the screw by henry james, first edition abebooks. The account has lent itself to dozens of different interpretations. Aug 21, 1994 the artistic director is steuart bedford, who led the premiere of death in venice and now shares the direction of brittens aldeburgh festival. This gripping performance of the turn of the screw conducted unflaggingly by the britten specialist, steuart bedford is the most compelling and consistently satisfying of all the. Britten albert herring northern sinfonia steuart bedford. Dec 22, 2003 field, davies, greager, obata, stuttgart radio symphony orchestra, steuart bedford, conductor, michael hampe, director. Due to its ambiguous content and narrative skill, the turn of the screw became a favorite text of new criticism. Field, davies, greager, obata, stuttgart radio symphony orchestra, steuart bedford, conductor, michael hampe, director. Based on henry jamess famous and much discusssed ghost story, it is performed here with a superb cast that sings splendidly and with the full dramatic character of the piece. Britten langridge, lott, pay, hulse, cannan, secunde. Turn of the screw is brittens tightest and tautest opera, in 16 short scenes that build the tension step by step to the shattering climas. This is a wonderful recording of benjamin brittens chamber opera the turn of the screw based on a short story by henry james.
The turn of the screw by henry james free at loyal books. The turn of the screw page 1 of 2 presto classical. Henry jamess the turn of the screw has inspired novels, an opera and several films including the innocents, which pauline kael. Recognised as one of todays leading britten experts as a result of his long collaboration with the composer, steuart bedford has conducted brittens operas in the most important houses including the world premiere of death in venice at aldeburgh in 1973. This gripping performance of the turn of the screwconducted unflaggingly by the britten specialist, steuart bedfordis the most compelling and consistently satisfying of all the. Those he has performed and recorded with include heather harper, ann murray. The popularity of brittens three chamber operas proper the rape of lucretia, albert herring and the turn of the screw has tended to somewhat overshadow his brilliant adaptation of john gays the beggars opera, the realisation of which was completed in 1948. One of the factors that makes it so appealing is that the structure and ending are open to the readers interpretation. Those he has performed and recorded with include heather harper, ann murray, margaret marshall, philip langridge, sir thomas allen, dame felicity lott, john. A guide to benjamin brittens intense opera the turn of the screw.
At the end miles lies in the same position, and resonances like this infuse the production with a feeling that as the screw turns the result is foreordained. Originally published in 1898, it is ostensibly a ghost story that has lent itself well to operatic and film adaptation. Radio symphony orchestra of stuttgartsteuart bedford recorded. Midsummer nights dream, phaedra, rape of lucretia, turn of. An additional essay demonstrates how several critical perspectives can be combined.
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