Interpretation and performance
The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten and Myfanwy Piper
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21789377 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Michael Ewans (0000-0002-1707-1337, University of Newcastle Australia, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 259-279 |
| Publication date | 2021-12-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Adaptation in Film & Performance (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1753-6421 • E-ISSN: 1753-643X |
| Publisher | Intellect (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1386/jafp_00057_1 |
| OpenAlex | W4205610632 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 5 |
This article revisits the important fields of dispute about The Turn of the Screw – whether the ambiguity about the reality of the ghosts, which is present in Henry James’s novella, carries over into the opera; what the Governess’s state of mind is; what kind of possession of the children is sought by the ghosts; and how the closing moments are to be interpreted. The focus is not just on what the libretto and score can tell us when studied by themselves; examples of decisions by directors and singing actors are drawn from two productions available on DVD, and one available on YouTube, ranging from a 1983 production recorded at a 1990 revival via a 1992 staging to a new production in 2019. There is also reference to some pre-1985 productions cited by Patricia Howard. The discussion widens in the Conclusion to draw out the implications of the analysis for the production of other operas. An Appendix provides a comparative synopsis of the opera and the novella
Aesthetics · Ambiguity · Art · CLARITY · Economics · Linguistics · Literature · Management · Novella · Opera · Singing · Sociology · History · Musicology and Musical Analysis · Philosophy · Theater, Performance, and Music History · Theatre and Performance Studies
| Citations per year | 0.2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2021 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |