Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 3,16 May 2026,131 mins

Britten's The Turn of the Screw

Opera on 3

Available for 28 days

Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw from the Linbury Theatre, with Isabelle Peters as the Governess and Elgan Llŷr Thomas as Quint. An operatic ghost story based on a literary classic. Benjamin Britten's adaptation of Henry James’s tense, classic novella follows the malign influence of two ghosts on two children. Marooned in a remote country house, their young Governess finds herself dangerously out of her depth as she uncovers more about the children's behaviour – and what is prompting it. Britten's chilling The Turn of the Screw comes to life in an atmospheric new staging created by Natalie Abrahami and Michael Levine with Bassem Akiki conducting. This new production follows Billy Budd, Death in Venice and Peter Grimes in the cycle of Britten works from The Royal Opera. Presented by Ian Skelly with guest Kate Kennedy. Britten: The Turn of the Screw - an opera in a Prologue and Two acts with a libretto by Myfanwy Piper after the story by Henry James The Governess .... Isabelle Peters (soprano) Peter Quint .... Elgan Llyr Thomas (tenor) Mrs Grose, the housekeeper .... Clare Barnett-Jones (mezzo-soprano) Miss Jessel, the ghost of the former governess .... Kate Royal (soprano) Miles, the young boy .... Glenn Tong (boy soprano) Flora, his younger sister .... Fleur Mauxion (soprano) Orchestra of the Royal Opera Bassem Akiki (conductor)

Programme Website
More episodes

Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    The Turn of the Screw
    The Turn of the Screw
    Benjamin Britten