Turn of the Screw As Presented by the UT Opera Company

An exciting bit of culture will be gracing Knoxville's Bijou Theatre next weekend.. An opera based on Henry James' novel The Turn of the Screw written by Benjamin Britten will be presented by the UT Opera Company.

Although it comes to us after Halloween, the story is one of ghosts, good, evil, and the upper class. James was renowned for his contributions to American literature, favoring that of internal conflicts and psychological thrillers than the external adventure type novel. Now, he is one of the more studied American authors, giving way to volume upon volume of literary criticism. James was uniquely American and speaks with a strong command over the English language, often rivaling his peers in Europe.

While opera is most commonly associated with foreign languages and uppity pretension, "The Turn of the Screw" is profoundly American and accessible to a mainstream audience. It is, of course, in English, which makes an excellent starting point for those that have been previously unfamiliar with the art of Opera, and it also has a clearly defined and easy to follow story.

"The Turn of the Screw" is widely regarded as one of the more dramatic and exciting of American Operas, which lends credence to the idea that not all "high art" is boring. Children and adults alike are are bound to be transfixed by the haunting music and variations on the twelve note "screw theme" while the staging and acting will no doubt enthrall the audience during each performance. For the seasoned opera goer, it will be a pleasant and easy experience, one sure to please.

According to the UT music department website:
"The UT Opera Theatre is part of the Vocal Studies program and is fast becoming one of the most successful programs of its kind in the southeast. The ensemble features the best of the School's undergraduate and graduate singing actors. The Opera Theatre stages at least two full-scale productions each year and has recently staged A Menotti Trilogy and Albert Herring. An important aspect of the program is the Knoxville Opera Studio, a collaboration between the Knoxville Opera Company and the UT Opera Theatre."

"The Turn of the Screw" will be presented on Friday November 16^th at 8 pm, at 2 and 8 pm on Saturday, Nov 17^th and at 8 pm Sunday November 18^th at the Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $5 for students with a valid student ID. It will be performed by the University of Tennessee Opera Company.