It is indeed ‘a curious story’, as the Prologue says, the personal account of a young governess sent to instruct a boy and a girl in the country, long ago …

Britten’s brilliantly scored, compelling adaptation of Henry James’s novella takes its themes of childish innocence and adult corruption, then twists and turns them to disturbing and ultimately devastating effect.

A remote English country house, an old and faithful housekeeper, two young orphan children and an eager new governess sent down from London to look after them. But all is not quite as it seems in the sheltered world of Bly. Spirits from the past increasingly encroach upon the realm of the living. And one question keeps worming its way into the governess’s mind: what exactly did happen between the children, their former governess and the deceased manservant, Peter Quint?

Jonathan Kent’s eerily unsettling staging returns to the Festival conducted by Glyndebourne on Tour’s Music Director, Jakub Hr?ša. The cast includes Giselle Allen as Miss Jessel, and Toby Spence as Peter Quint, while Miah Persson sings the role of the Governess.

Founded in 1934 by John Christie and his opera singer wife Audrey Mildmay, Glyndebourne presents opera of the highest quality, commissions new work, develops new talent and reaches new audiences. The Glyndebourne Festival presents six productions each year in the magnificent 1,200 opera house built in 1994. Glyndebourne’s Education Programme, established to enhance the understanding and enjoyment of opera, is considered to be the most imaginative opera education programme in the UK.

TURN OF THE SCREW
PERFORMANCES AUGUST 11 - 13 - 16 - 18 - 21 - 23 - 26 - 28