Opera in a prologue and two acts op. 54
Libretto Myfanwy Piper 1911-1997 after the story The Turn of the Screw by Henry James 1843-1916
First performance 14 Sep 1954 Teatro La Fenice Venice EOG Orchestra conductor Benjamin Britten; soloists Peter Pears Jennifer Vyvyan David Hemmings Olive Dyer Joan Cross Arda Mandikian
Duration 101.0`
Dedication `This opera was written for and is affectionately dedicated to those members of the English Opera Group who took part in the first performance`

Movements
Act I
Prologue
Theme
Scene 1 the journey the governess
Variation I
Scene 2 the welcome the governess Mrs Grose Miles Flora
Variation II
Scene 3 the letter the governess Mrs Grose Miles Flora
Variation III
Scene 4 the tower the governess Quint
Variation IV
Scene 5 the window the governess Mrs Grose Miles Flora Quint
Variation V
Scene 6 the lesson the governess Miles Flora
Variation VI
Scene 7 the lake the governess Miles Flora Miss Jessel
Variation VII
Scene 8 at night all

Act II
Variation VIII
Scene 1 colloquy and soliloguy Quint Miss Jessel the governess
Variation IX
Scene 2 the bells the governess Mrs Grose Miles Flora
Variation X
Scene 3 Miss Jessel the governess Miss Jessel
Variation XI
Scene 4 the bedroom the governess Miles Quint
Variation XII
Scene 5 Quint Miles Quint
Variation XIII
Scene 6 the piano the governess Mrs Grose Miles Flora
Variation XIV
Scene 7 Flora the governess Mrs Grose Flora Miss Jessel
Variation XV
Scene 8 Miles the governess Mrs Grose Miles Flora Quint

Text Arthur Rimbaud 18541891
Dedication `For Sophie Wyss`

Numbers
1 Fanfare
2 Villes
3a Phrase
3b Antique `To K.H.W.S.` /The dedicatee is Wulff Scherchen/
4 Royauté
5 Marine
6 Interlude `To E.M.` /The dedicatee is Elizabeth Mayer/
7 Being beauteous `To P.N.L.P.` /The dedicatee is Peter Neville Luard Pears./
8 Parade
9 Départ