BURY COURT OPERA
THE TURN OF THE SCREW
by Benjamin Britten
libretto by Myfanwy Piper
Saturday 9 (6pm), Thursday 14 (6.45pm) and Saturday 16 (6pm) March 2019
Benjamin Britten first read Henry James’s novella The Turn of the Screw when he was 18 and thought it ‘an incredible masterpiece’. It was his friend and librettist Myfanwy Piper who suggested the novella as the subject of an opera and The Turn of the Screw was eventually premiered at the Venice Biennale on 14th September 1954 since when it has been a regular in the operatic repertoire.
A young governess, engaged by an enigmatic Guardian, is left in sole charge of two orphaned children at a remote country house with just an old housekeeper for company and instructions not to trouble the Guardian with any matter at all. Miles and Flora immediately captivate the Governess, but the ensuing events quickly reveal the ambiguity at the heart of The Turn of the Screw: the corruption of innocence.
The Turn of the Screw is directed by rising star Ella Marchment. Ella is co-founder of the Helios Collective and directed BCO’s highly successful first commission Mad King Suibhne which premiered at Bury Court in 2017; she works extensively in the UK and Europe.
Conductor Paul Wingfield
CHROMA
First Violin: Florence Cooke Second Violin: Claire Sterling Viola: Chihiro Ono Cello: Double Bass: Flute, Alto flute, Piccolo: Julian Sperry Oboe, Cor Anglais: Emma Feilding Piano, Celesta: Ben-San Lau Clarinet in A and Bb, Bass clarinet: Stuart King Bassoon: Jo Turner Horn: Richard Bayliss Harp: Alex Rider Percussion: Steve Gibson
Director Ella Marchment
Designer Holly Pigott
Lighting Designer Ben Pickersgill
CAST
Peter Quint – Andrew Dickinson
Miss Jessel – Daisy Brown
Governess – Alison Rose
Mrs Grose – Emily Gray
Miles – Harry Hetherington
Flora - Jennifer Clark
TICKETS via Bury Court
burycourtopera.org
enquiries: 01420 22109
VENUE
The Barn at Bury Court
Bentley
Farnham, Surrey
Sat nav users: Please use the postcode GU10 5LY to avoid being routed via a closed road.