10 Minute Insight | THE TURN OF THE SCREW
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Michael White gives a 10 minute insight into Britten's THE TURN OF THE SCREW, looking at its history, musical components and the circumstances of its premiere in Venice in 1954.
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My name is Janette Miller. The 1959 TV " The Turn of the Screw" is still haunting me today. In this 10 minute introduction to this opera at Garsington the first few minutes are devoted to the 1959 Associated Television production of the first English opera presented of UK television where I sang "Flora"! In those days this was a breathtaking technical operation with two studios one for the orchestra and one for production but the scariest thing was that is was done live! Not stops for mistakes, all the scenery, visual effects were done live and no breaks for advertisements. It was terrifying especially as on the transmission a camera went wrong and all the carefully choreographed direction went out of the window the worst being that the cast could no longer see the conductor. I have yet to get over this and it put me off performing. Horrific. Nevertheless, this production has gone down in history.
The tapes were supposed to be destroyed for copyright purposes and this went down as one of the most famous acts of artistic vandalism. I never saw myself except for the transmission, but 40 years later in about 2005, they turned up in tins at the UK National Film Archive. Someone could not bring themselves to do this deed. They have now been remastered frame by frame and it was a very humbling experience to see myself as a 16-year-old, 40 years later. How did I do it? I still have the programme. If you look on UA-cam for "Turn of Screw" UK TV 1959 Janette Miller you can get some idea of the production.
The presenter Michael White hits the nail on the head with his explanation of the complexities of this work. It is fascinating and difficult on so many levels. I think it is Britten's masterpiece as all artists write about what they know and Miles is very like Britten. I think it is about sexuality. Miles cannot decide between the heterosexual love for the governess or the love of Peter Quint. The music given to both of these characters is beautiful. Miles dies because he is forced to chose and he can't. Contrary to belief many of Britten's closest friends myself included believe he was probably bisexual. There are women in his life who have just been written out but I can tell you we were there.
I was at school with David Hemmings, the original Miles, at AES. He was so jealous of me working for Britten. He said he wished he was me and I found out what he meant. I too came under the spell of this composer who really has been my mentor and guide.
I look forward to seeing this production. Tom Bevan the Miles in the UK TV Screw is still alive too.
Wow! Janette - thank you so much for writing in. It’s a pleasure to hear from you and about your experiences. We hope you’ll enjoy our production of this masterpiece and we thank you for your extraordinary performance on film too.
@@GarsingtonOpera Are you planning to stage that opera in 2021 or 2022 again ? Then - as a big fan of boys choirs since 1954 - I would the first time in my life travel to GB...:) Of course I know that GB also has a lot of world class boys choirs.
@@GarsingtonOpera Dear Mr. Michael White, your English also for Germans is very good to understand...:) At the moment that opera here in Hannover/Deutschland will be available in May (15th) online per live stream:
staatstheater-hannover.de/de_DE/programm-staatsoper/livestream-the-turn-of-the-screw.1298871
The first "shiver up the spine" moment this work ever gave me happened the first time I recognised the theme built from 4ths looming out of the darkness , like a towering monolith, at the beginning of the last scene of Act 1. I still believe it to be the most disturbing opera ever written, although both Death In Venice and Maxwell Davies' The Lighthouse come a close second. Admittedly I haven't heard every opera ever written so there might be something even more disturbing out there, but I doubt it.