Released in the Britten anniversary year, Richard Farnes, the Music Director of Opera North who led their critically acclaimed production of ‘The Turn of the Screw’ in 2010, conducts an all-English cast in Britten’s most ingeniously crafted opera, including Andrew Kennedy, Sally Matthews, and 11-year old Michael Clayton-Jolly in the role of Miles.
Originally scheduled to be conducted by Sir Colin Davis, Richard Farnes was the natural replacement, himself having been mentored by the late conductor.
In 1932, the 18-year-old Britten heard on the radio ‘a wonderful, impressive but terribly eerie and scary play ‘The Turn of the Screw’ by Henry James.’ Britten’s version of the ghost story, premiered in 1954, is a chamber opera in a prologue and two acts. The opera tells the story of a Governess and a housekeeper, Mrs Grose, who vow to protect two children, Miles and Flora, from the strange happenings that occur in the grounds of their English country house.
