The Turn of the Screw

Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, based on Henry James’s famous novella, is a pillar of twentieth century opera and regarded as one of the most dramatic in the repertoire.

The cast of The Turn of the Screw will include Sarah Gilford and Anna Cavaliero as The Governess, Xavier Hetherington as Peter Quint, Emma Bell and Sarah Pring as Mrs Grose, and Elin Pritchard as Miss Jessel.

A young governess is sent to a remote country house to care for two children. She becomes increasingly disturbed by their behaviour but is under strict instruction never to bother their guardian in London. Are they innocent or wicked, possessed or just high-spirited?

English composer and conductor, Benjamin Britten is known for his substantial operatic output. He wrote sixteen operas including large scale works such as Peter Grimes, chamber operas and works for children. Commissioned by the Venice Biennale and premiered in 1954, The Turn of the Screw was to be his final chamber opera.

The Turn of the Screw is the second presentation of USTINOV OPERA following last season’s Dido and Aeneas which marked the first opera ever to be performed in the studio. Head of Music at the Royal Opera House, conductor and pianist Richard Hetherington collaborates with Deborah Warner as the season’s Head of Music, working closely with the musical teams of the opera productions.

Director Isabelle Kettle returns following her triumphantly acclaimed production of Dido and Aeneas which played to completely sold out audiences at the Ustinov Studio in October 2022.

The Turn of the Screw is reimagined for the Ustinov Studio and performed with two pianos, flute and celeste, led by Music Director Henry Websdale.