The Turn of the Screw

The Turn of the Screw description

Love opera? Tick. Adore being spooked? Tick. This deliciously scary production is a 1900s chamber opera by Benjamin Britten, with a libretto by Myfanwy Piper. The story is based on the 1898 horror novella of the same name by author Henry James, a plot delivering genuine chills.

A super-spooky story set to music by Benjamin Britten

If you’ve never thought of opera as spooky, think again. This one might just leave you sleeping with the light on. It weaves the tale of a young, inexperienced governess sent to a grand country house to look after Miles and Flora, two orphaned children abandoned by their uncle.

When she’s scared silly by a mysterious male and an equally threatening female figure, the housekeeper tells her the man is actually Peter Quint, the master’s valet, and the woman is Miss Jessel, the children’s ex-governess. So far, so good. The only problem is, both of them are dead.

Unease sits at the heart of this brilliant opera, which is much more than a straightforward ghost story. You’ll feel the fear creeping up on you as the plot unfolds, and it’ll hold you in its grip ‘til the end. But is it real, or are the ghosts all in the governess’s imagination?

The stars of the show

This dark and deliciously frightening opera stars Ailish Tynan as the governess. Ghostly Peter Quint and Miss Jessel the dead ex-governess are beautifully sung by Robert Murray and the ex-English National Opera Harewood artist Eleanor Dennis. Gweneth Ann Rand plays Mrs Grose and Alan Oke handles the Prologue.

Irish ENO soprano Ailish Tynan won the 2003 Rosenblatt Recital Song Prize at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. She was also a member of the Vilar Young Artist Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and a BBC New Generation Artist. Robert Murray studied at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio, winning second prize in the Kathleen Ferrier awards 2003 and a Jette Parker Young Artist at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Eleanor Dennis won a 2023 Carole Rees Award from The Mastersingers, a Scottish Soprano from the Royal College of Music's International Opera School.

Directed and designed by Isabella Bywater, two different conductors - Duncan Ward and Charlotte Corderoy - take to the stage for various performances, both on their ENO debut. Paul Anderson is the Lighting Designer, Jon Driscoll is the Video Designer, and Myfanwy Piper is the Librettist.

Playing at London Coliseum (venue info)

Performance Times for The Turn of the Screw