Britten - The turn of the screw - Delunsch, Miller, Mclaughlin - HardingDVD5 - PAL - 4:3 - PCM, Dolby Digital 5.1 - 108min.
Subtitles: English, French, German, Castellano
Bel Air 2007
Performer: Gregory Monk, Mireille Delunsch, Marie McLaughlin, Olivier Dumait, Marlin Miller
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Orchestra/Ensemble: Mahler Chamber Orchestra
This DVD of the Aix-en-Provence production is very satisfactory, both musically and dramatically. The direction is intelligent, the design elegant and simple; the small stage and spare visual effects manage to create some really hair-raising images. Any version of this opera rests primarily on its female lead, and Mireille Delunsch doesn't disappoint. Her musicianship and acting are exemplary; perhaps her slight French accent could be faulted in this most Anglo piece, but that's my only quibble. The children are fine, although Flora's a bit on the phlegmatic side. The prologue here is sung by the children's uncle, an interesting idea. Quint and Jessel are excellent, appropriately florid and spooky (although Jessel's gift of a modern lipstick to Flora is a howler). I haven't seen the other available DVDs of this piece, but hard to see how they could top this one. Recommended. --Amazon customer
