The turn of the screw is an 1898 horror novella by henry james that first appeared in serial format in colliers weekly magazine. Radio symphony orchestra stuttgartsteuart bedford stage director. After a particularly harrowing ghost story, a man named douglas indicates that he has an even more terrifying tale to tell about two children who saw a ghost. The turn of the screw, and daisy miller by henry james. Due to the fact that james lived in both america and england during his life, both locations histories must be addressed. It is performed the aldeburgh festival ensemble conducted by steuart bedford. Michael hampe libretto by myfanwy piper based on the novel by henry james directed for. Helen field, menai davies, richard greager, phyllis cannan, machiko obata and samuel linay. A most wonderful, lurid, poisonous little tale oscar wilde the turn of the screw, jamess great masterpiece of haunting atmosphere and unbearable tension, tells of a young governess sent to a country house to take charge of two orphans, miles and flora. Steuart bedford probably knows this score backwards and the very versatile aurora orchestra is the right fit for this chamber work that incorporates so many different musical styles. The concert hall, snape maltings, aldeburgh, uk, in october 1993. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. 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.
Originally published in 1898, it is ostensibly a ghost story that has lent itself well to operatic and film adaptation. This is a wonderful recording of benjamin brittens chamber opera the turn of the screw based on a short story by henry james. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. This is actually a reissue by naxos of a 2cd set first published in 1994 by the nowdefunct collins classics. While peter grimes and billy budd are the grandest operas in the britten works list, widely seen as his masterpieces, the turn of the screw stands as his greatest achievement in the genre of chamber opera. Henry jamess the turn of the screw was published in 1898. In 1964, he made his debut conducting the oxford chamber orchestra. The turn of the screw steuart bedford on allmusic 2003.
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. After the recent incidents, the governess keeps close watch on her charges. The turn of the screw is a disturbing work, a novelty in the opera world for being something of a horror story with genuine chills. Britten, steuart bedford, aldeburgh festival ensemble, philip langridge, felicity lott, sam pay, eileen hulse britten. Helen fields governess displays youthful enthusiasm that quickly turns to anxiety, fear and. Steuart bedford ensures each essential sonic gesture is heard. The turn of the screw penguin popular classics by james. Grose, who apparently believes the governess story without reservation.
The turn of the screw is another classic i have been meaning to read for years. However, the librettist, myfanwy piper, and benjamin britten, working in close association, had attempted. Next part 2 the text is from the first american appearance in book form. Classified as both gothic fiction and a ghost story, the novella focuses on a governess who, caring for two.
In order to fully understand this text, we must look at the happenings of the time period in which james lived. The turn of the screw by henry james, first edition abebooks. Need help with chapter 20 in henry jamess the turn of the screw. The turn of the screw opera for everyone the opera 101. The turn of the screw by henry james, first edition. International festivals and opera houses with which he is particularly closely associated. The turn of the screw, by henry james part 1 out of 3. The turn of the screw by steuart bedford from amazons.
I was surprised to find out that it is a gothic horror story. Turning the text into an opera had required major changes, owing to the transposition of a complex jamesian narrative form into a dramatic one. Readings and music the supernatural in music, literature. In recent seasons, he conducted highly praised productions of death in venice at garsington opera, don giovanni at vancouver opera, albert herring with bbc symphony orchestra. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. I must have been in my early 20s and i had heard it was scary so i picked it up thinking i would be terrified while gaining pretentious snob points for if being henry james. Drawing on the true postwar history of houses like the fictional bly, miskimmon. After the sellout production of turn of the screw in 2020, riverside opera returns to the barnes music festival. Complete your benjamin britten, felicity lott, philip langridge, steuart bedford collection. 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.
Recorded in 1993,originally on the collins label,now released by naxos. 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. Radio symphony orchestra of stuttgartsteuart bedford recorded. The turn of the screw 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. The turn of the screw steuart bedford, philip langridge, felicity lott on allmusic 1994. Steuart john rudolf bedford, obe born 31 july 1939, london is a british orchestral and opera conductor and pianist. The turn of the screw britten steuart bedford youtube. England 18851915 a closer look at the turn of the screw. The turn of the screw and other stories oxford worlds classics by henry james. Steuart bedford brings a lifetimes experience of britten to his conducting of. They tell each other tales, which is common on christmas eve.
The story opens with a framing devicewe find ourselves at a holiday party, where ghost stories are being told. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Summary and analysis sections 15 summary in the ensuing days, the governess often thinks that her pupils are conspiring against her, and she wonders when they would openly admit that they know about miss jessel and peter quint. 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. One of the members of the party, douglas, promises rather woefully to provide a chilling, reallife tale once a manuscript containing it arrives. 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.
This noted conductor and pianist studied at the royal academy of music and at oxford university. The ambigious role of jessel at first, jessel seems to be a corrupt woman who is working along side peter quint. Benjamin britten, felicity lott, philip langridge, steuart bedford. It was originally issued on collins classics col70302, back in 1994. However, when she is seen with her head in her hands at the bottom of the staircase, she seems to want to put an end to the corruption. As if brittens turn of the screw needed to be made any creepier. Buy benjamin brittens album titled britten conducts britten.
Bedford has conducted several commercial recordings of britten operas, including the first recording of death in venice decca, as well as the turn of the screw collins classics, since reissued on naxos he has also recorded his death in venice suite and the major vocal cycles by britten. Learn the important quotes in the turn of the screw and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book. He was a longtime colleague of brittens, has conducted all of his operas over the years, and was entrusted by the ailing britten with the premiere of death in venice. In october 1898 it appeared in the two magics, a book published by macmillan in new york city and heinemann in london. Death in venice is arguably benjamin brittens most heartrending and personal opera.
Based on henry jamess novel of the same name, its an old fashioned ghost story that touches on issues of a very contemporary nature. Take our free the turn of the screw quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. 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. I first read turn of the screw by henry james a long time ago. The turn of the screw, by henry james full text free. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Find materials for this course in the pages linked along the left. Summary it is christmas eve, and several london residents are spending the holiday in a country house together. Chapter chapter it was all very well to join them, but speaking to them proved quite as much as ever an effort beyond my strengthoffered, in close quarters, difficulties as insurmountable as before. He has conducted brittens operas across the world including the world premiere of death in venice in 1973. The turn of the screw by steuart bedford from amazons classical music store. Artistic director, james day joins forces with director will ashford and a cast of singers to be announced in early 2020 comprised of rising stars in the international opera world. She feels as though she could not withstand the pressure of these days if it were not for the comfort of mrs.
It is an ambitious and accomplished attempt to embody in music book that is in itself a masterpiece. Steuart bedford conducted an innovative production of peter grimes at the aldeburgh festival that has since been released in cinemas, on dvd and on cd to critical acclaim. Britten, steuart bedford, aldeburgh festival ensemble, philip. Steuart bedford, of course, is our reigning britten specialist. There are some tricky passages and quite a few sound effects whistling, various clocks and bells. Due to its ambiguous content and narrative skill, the turn of the screw became a. Steuart john rudolf bedford, obe born 31 july 1939, london is a british orchestral and. The turn of the screw is a short novel or a novella written by american writer henry james.