Benjamin Britten: The Turn of the Screw / Stuart Bedford, Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble [Box set, Import]

Benjamin Britten (Composer), Steuart Bedford (Conductor), Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble (Orchestra), Felicity Lott (Performer), Philip Langridge (Performer), Nadine Secunde (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Felicity Lott, Philip Langridge, Nadine Secunde
• Orchestra: Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble
• Conductor: Steuart Bedford
• Composer: Benjamin Britten
• Audio CD (May 24, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set, Import
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Collins Classics
• ASIN: B000003W1E
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,686 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1: The Prologue

2. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1, Scene 1: Theme

3. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1, Scene 2: Variation 1

4. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1, Scene 3: Variation 2

5. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1, Scene 4: Variation 3

6. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1, Scene 5: Variation 4

7. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1, Scene 6: Variation 5

8. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1, Scene 7: Variation 6

9. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 1, Scene 8: Variation 7

Disc: 2

1. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2, Scene 1: Variation 8

2. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2, Scene 2: Variation 9

3. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2, Scene 3: Variation 10

4. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2, Scene 4: Variation 11

5. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2, Scene 5: Variation 12

6. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2, Scene 6: Variation 13

7. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2, Scene 7: Variation 14

8. Turn of the Screw, chamber opera, Op. 54: Act 2, Scene 8: Variation 15

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding recording of an operatic masterpiece, June 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Benjamin Britten: The Turn of the Screw / Stuart Bedford, Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble (Audio CD)

I'm delighted to see a listing for this recording, because I consider it the best to date of Britten's thrilling, gripping chamber opera. Its unique scoring for 6 high voices (5 of them soprano/treble) and 13 instrumentalists weaves a spell like no other opera. It is stuffed with gorgeous melodies, and musical themes that grab hold in the memory after just one hearing. (The ensemble in which all the voices join at the end of Act I is only one of the memorable scenes -- the Governess gets stunning arias in each act and there are also lovely duets and instrumental interludes.) This recording features razor-sharp conducting by Steuart Bedford and uniformly impressive singing, especially by Felicity Lott, Philip Langridge, and Nadine Secunde. Highest recommendation.

3 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If you like recititive...you'll love this, May 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Benjamin Britten: The Turn of the Screw / Stuart Bedford, Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble (Audio CD)

Maybe it's just because I like a defined melody or a theme that can become stuck in your head, but the style of "The Turn of the Screw" wasn't one that fit me. I like a lot of opera, but had a tough time with this one. I was expecting more defined arias and an occasional group number with all six characters singing together, but I didn't get this. From beginning to end...it was mostly recititive. I like to hear this in Italian, but it loses its effect in English. It definately reflects the modern time in which it was composed. While the orchestra is still a normal orchestra, the music was not like Wagner, Mozart, or Verdi. Britten and Piper wrote appropriately for the fifties, but if you are a fan of hard core classical and romantic opera, "The Turn of the Screw" is not for you. The voices are beautiful and the music is great. It is too free flowing for me, but others may really enjoy it.