THE TURN OF THE SCREW / BENJAMIN BRITTEN – II PREMIERE

“The ceremony of innocence is drowned” – this ominous quote from the famous poem The Second Coming by the Irish poet William Butler Yeats opens the second act of Benjamin Britten’s opera The turn of the screw, providing a sort of key to its interpretation. The libretto of the work was based on a novel by Henry James, full of understatements and hidden symbolism. A new governess arrives at Bly House to look after the orphaned siblings – Miles and Flora. However, does she stand a chance to protect them from the ghosts inhabiting the mansion? What secrets are the siblings hiding? What role do the late butler Peter Quint and the former teacher Miss Jessel play in the story?

The atmosphere of terror is emphasized by the brilliant use of an orchestra consisting of only thirteen instruments and the refined musical form of the piece. The prologue opening the work functions as a theme and the following short scenes are preceded by its successive variations. The tightening of the screw appearing in the title is also reflected in the harmonic structure of the work. As the events unfold, the viewer plunges deeper and deeper into what is inevitable, and the autobiographical allusions hidden in Britten’s work stimulate reflection on growing up, the power of desire and human nature.

MUSIC DIRECTOR LILIANNA KRYCH
DIRECTOR, VISUALISATIONS KAMILA SIWIŃSKA
SET DESIGNER, LIGHTING DESIGNER AGATA SKWARCZYŃSKA
CHOREOGRAPHY GIEORGIJ PUCHALSKI
CREATOR/PUPPET MAKER KATARZYNA PIETRZYKOWSKA
PUPPET ANIMATION CONSULTANT PIOTR MICHALCZUK
ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR KAROL SZWECH
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS SŁAWOMIR JURCZAK, AGNIESZKA KOZŁOWSKA
ASSISTANT SET DESIGNER ANNA ROGÓŻ

STAGE MANAGERS TATIANA HEMPEL-GIERLACH, WANDA KARPIŃSKA

CAST

GOVERNESS ANNA FARYSEJ
FLORA KAROLINA RÓŻA KOWALCZYK
MILES MARCIN GADALIŃSKI
QUINT JACEK SZPONARSKI
GROSE OLGA RUSIN
JESSEL ALEKSANDRA KLIMCZAK
LORD (DANCER) GIEORGIJ PUCHALSKI

THE ORCHESTRA OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA

CONDUCTOR LILIANNA KRYCH

Performance suitable for viewers over the age of 16.

Duration: approx. 2h (with an intermission)

The seats in the auditorium are not numbered.

PLEASE NOTE: the entrance to the Royal Theatre in Łazienki Park is located in Agrykola street.

One hour before the performance as well as for an hour after it is finished, the audience can use the electric cart running between the Royal Theater and the Łazienki Gate at the corner of Myśliwiecka / Agrykola streets.