Michael Tanner

Great Britten

The Turn of the Screw<br /> English National Opera L’heure espagnole; Gianni Schicchi<br /> Royal Opera House

issue 31 October 2009

The Turn of the Screw
English National Opera

L’heure espagnole; Gianni Schicchi
Royal Opera House

Each time I see Britten’s The Turn of the Screw I am more impressed by the brilliance of the music, and more irritated by the unprofitable ambiguities of the drama. The first revival at the Coliseum of David McVicar’s stunningly brilliant 2008 production of the piece intensified both these feelings. The overwhelming source of satisfaction was the staggering conducting of Sir Charles Mackerras. It is inconceivable that there should be a more complete realisation of the score, superbly played by 13 members of the ENO orchestra. It sounded more beautiful than it has ever done, sometime serenely so, sometimes wildly: the loud interlude after Miles has been playing his pseudo-Mozart sonata sounded like a new creation. The apparent tranquillity of much of the music only gave the sinister power of the rest greater intensity.

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