Benjamin Britten’s haunting and sinister opera, composed in 1954, is based on the famous novella written by Henry James in 1898. Katie Mitchell’s atmospheric and innovative film of the opera returns to the late 19th Century setting of the original story, Fulbeck Hall in Lincolnshire. The ghostly atmosphere of the music is perfectly re-created by clever lighting techniques and faded colours of the costumes. Visual inspiration is from the photographic work of Julia Margaret Cameron, Munch, Strindberg and the early Spiritualists. The result is a world where the boundaries between the living and the dead are chillingly blurred.

Richard Hickox, Mark Padmore, Lisa Milne, Catrin Wyn Davies, Diana Montague, Nicholas Kirby Johnson, Caroline Wise
City of London Sinfonia / Richard Hickox



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Synopsis.

Reviews
‘Britten’s ghost story about the corruption of two children is produced for television with stunning force by Katie Mitchell, who rethinks the opera aurally and visually to make sense for the medium. She uses a mix of pre-recorded and location sound, for example, and includes an enormous variety of other effects to give a powerful impression of space (ie muffled singing heard from outside a room). There are flashbacks, montages and establishing shots, and sometimes the score is even treated as voice-over to give a sense of a character’s interior monologue. It’s set in the late 19th century, in a bare old floorboarded country house swirling with fog, mist and dead leaves. And – a wonderful touch – it’s haunted not just by the ghosts Jessel and Quint, but by memories of the children’s dead mother too.
Lisa Milne is tremendous as the governess and invests her performance with terrifying notes of suppressed panic. And the beautiful singing of Mike Padmore (Quint) and Catrin Wyn Davies (Miss Jessel) contrasts shockingly with the sinister intentions of their characters, just as Britten intended. With remarkably assured performances from the children, and some excellent playing from the City of London Sinfonia under Richard Hickox, this is a benchmark production not just of this work but of opera on film too.’
Classic fM

'A highly imaginative treatment of the Britten masterpiece, superbly enacted.
‘This film was much lauded when shown on BBC2 last year. Katie Mitchell’s arresting production opens up the story, taking it into the countryside and producing spooky and louring images to create the mysterious and dangerous aura of Bly. …Mitchell allows the characters’ interior monologues to be heard while the singers’ mouths remain closed, especially apt for the role of the Governess.
For about two-thirds of the work, the director keeps within the parameters stipulated by Britten and librettist Myfanwy Piper, making us fully aware of the ambiguities of the participants and relationships. …the final struggle between the Governess and Quint for Mile’s soul is an arresting close. We are left, as we should be, uncertain at the state of the Governess’s mind and the exact powers of the ghosts.
Richard Hickox once more proves his affinity with Britten. He commands every aspect of the tricky score and an understanding of its wondrous detail, lovingly executed by members of his City of London Sinfonia.
A splendid cast has been assembled. Nicholas Kirby Johnson as Miles achieves just the right balance between innocence and knowingness. His singing is fluent and pointed, as is that of Caroline Wise, a teenage Flora with a lively presence, expressive eyes and a malleable voice. Lisa Milne sings with her customary clarity of line and word.
Diana Montague is a gratifyingly sympathetic Mrs Grose, using her body language to convey just the right feeling of apprehension and concern over the fate of her charges. Mark Padmore is, predictably, among the best of Quints, vocally and histrionically. Catryn Wyn-Davies is a properly wild and scary Miss Jessel. I approve of the introduction of the children’s mother to suggest the tranquillity destroyed by her death. All in all, this is the version to have.’
The Gramophone

Awards & Accolades:
Winner Best Fiction Film - Vienna TV Award 2004

DVD OF THE MONTH Gramophone (May 2005)

DVD CHOICE BBC Music Magazine (May 2005)

Classic fM BEST BUY (May 2005)

CAT NO: OA0907D
FORMAT: All Formats
REGIONS: All Regions
PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
LENGTH: 119 MINS
SOUND: DOLBY SURROUND / DOLBY STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT
RELEASED: 31/01/2005
NO OF DISCS: 1