Britten: The Turn of the Screw (complete opera)
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CD Details
Edition: Music CDCD Release Date: 2002-09-17
Music Label: EMI Classics
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Prologue
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Theme
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Scene 1. The Journey
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 1
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Scene 2. The Welcome
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 2
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Scene 3. The Letter
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 3
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Scene 4. The Tower
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 4
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Scene 5. The Window
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 5
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Scene 6. The Lesson
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 6
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Scene 7. The Lake
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Variation 7
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1. Scene 8. At Night
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 8
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Scene 1. Colloquy and Soliloquy
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 9
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Scene 2. The Bells
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 10
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Scene 3. Miss Jessel
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 11
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Scene 4. The Bedroom
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 12
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Scene 5. Quint
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 13
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 14
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Scene 7. Flora
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Variation 15
- Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2. Scene 8. Miles
Music reviews of Britten: The Turn of the Screw (complete opera)
Music Review: A chillingly atmospheric version
Rating: 5 Stars
Britten's "The Turn of the Screw" is the only operatic setting of Henry James I know of, and what a remarkable work it is; darkly mysterious and loaded with sinister undercurrents and set with masterfully controlled urgency. I know this set has not been to everyone's taste; it is more ominous than usual and the psychological tension has been claimed to overshadow the actual musical experience - meaning, I think, that the darkness of the drama disturb the enjoyability of the music. I can understand that criticism, but not quite how it can be used as a criticism.
This version at least has a strong cast, good sound and intense playing from the instrumentalists of the Mahler Chamber orchestra, well led by Daniel Harding. Joan Rodgers characterizes the slightly smotheringly na?ve Governess pretty well, but she becomes a little one-dimensional, and the character could need a little more suppressed anguish. Bostridge's Quint is, however, outstanding; more eerily menacing than any alternative I've heard. Vivian Tierney's Miss Jessel is sorrowfully convincing, while Jane Henschel's Mrs Grose finely intense but somewhat unsubtle. The Flora becomes a little weak (the producers chose to use a girl the right age, which might work very well on stage but is perhaps less than ideal on disc). Julian Leang's Miles is convincingly chilly and double-sided, though. I should mention in particular the all-important clarity of diction of all the singers here - a crucial point in favor of this version.
This is, then, an absorbing version, chillingly atmospheric and generally excellently performed in good sound. A harrowing experience indeed, and strongly recommended.
Description of Britten: The Turn of the Screw (complete opera)
This clearly, carefully played performance of what is certainly one of the world's spookiest operas is just about everything but spooky. Conductor Daniel Harding has a feel for the music but not the atmosphere, and so some moments are rushed which ought to be lingered over and vice-versa. Star tenor Ian Bostridge sings the pivotal role of the ghostly Peter Quint with elegance and beautiful tone--certainly two attributes his predecessors on CD lacked--but these are traits that work against the character. His eerie calling of the boy's name over and over again early in the opera is a model of good singing of difficult music, but that's not what we should be noticing. A pity, since Joan Rodgers's Governess is near ideal in her combination of terror, sadness, and weirdness. The children are convincing (though the Miles is not as good as David Hemmings on Britten's own recording), and as mentioned, the playing is near perfect and all the instruments in this wonderfully, economically scored work are audible. This is a truly great opera. You should own the Decca version, led by the composer himself, despite that it isn't up to this new one sonically. Bostridge fans will not be disappointed here, but Britten fans will want to hear Peter Pears in the role of Quint. --Robert LevineGeneral CDs
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