The Return of the Screw: chilling Britten at Garsington Opera

Ben Fletcher (Miles) and Robert Murray (Peter Quint)

Verity Wingate (Governess) and Robert Murray (Prologue)

Maia Greaves (Flora) and Ben Fletcher (Miles)

Verity Wingate (Governess), Maia Greaves (Flora), Carolyn Holt (Mrs Grose) and Ben Fletcher (Miles)

Helena Dix (Miss Jessel)

By Roy Westbrook, 03 July 2022

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“the subtlest of transgressions... a chilling moment when Miles repeats the exact gesture”

Reviewed at Garsington Opera, High Wycombe on 2 July 2022

Britten, The Turn of the Screw

Garsington Opera

Mark Wigglesworth, Conductor

Louisa Muller, Director

Christopher Oram, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Malcolm Rippeth, Lighting Designer

Philharmonia Orchestra

Verity Wingate, Governess

Robert Murray, Peter Quint, The Prologue

Carolyn Holt, Mrs Grose

Helena Dix, Miss Jessel

Ben Fletcher, Miles

Isaac Rogers, Miles

Maia Greaves, Flora

Adrianna Forbes-Dorant, Flora

A radically trad Fidelio at Garsington

Peter Quantrill, 27th June

Simple solutions prove the best in Beethoven's "problem" opera as John Cox's staging is revived at Garsington.

****1

Ravishing Rodelinda: Handel al fresco at Garsington Opera

Roy Westbrook, 13th June

Ruth Knight untangles Handel's Rodelinda, directing a new staging at Garsington which features a feast of fine singing.

****1

Three card trick: compelling new Queen of Spades at Garsington

Roy Westbrook, 29th May

Jack Furness directs a terrific new Queen of Spades at Garsington – haunting and harrowing.

****1

Garsington’s L’elisir d’amore: Dr Feelgood wins the day

David Karlin, 28th May

Simon Higlett’s exquisite sets and costumes give a backdrop to Donizetti’s frothiest of rom-coms.

****1

Madcap comedy from Verdi: Un giorno di regno at Garsington

David Karlin, 29th June

Christopher Alden, Chris Hopkins and an excellent cast send us a comic roller coaster ride with Verdi’s ultra-rarely performed second opera.

*****

Garsington Opera's new A Midsummer Night's Dream

Roy Westbrook, 16th June

In the first and last acts, ladies entered with a train still attached to a bolt of cloth, which was then cut to length by an attendant. Was this production brought to the stage in a great hurry, allowing no time for costume fittings?

***11

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.