Henry James's ghost story, The Turn of the Screw, is one of the most widely analyzed and fascinating literary works of the late 19th century. Some readers consider it a chilling horror story, others interpret it as a psychological thriller in which ghosts exist only in the minds of the characters. According to Iván Fischer, the conductor-director of the September premiere of Britten's eponymous opera, it is exactly this ambiguity that is the most important element of the story. "We live in bubbles. Any attempt to seek an objective truth will seem ambiguous and will be interpreted differently depending on your mindset and your bubble values.”

The Turn of the Screw has inspired many artists and creators since its first publication in 1898. Dozens of paraphrases, stage and film versions have been made, and new adaptations continue to emerge to this day - most recently in the popular Netflix series The Haunting of Bly Manor.

Before the performance of Britten's opera on September 10, literary historian László J. Győri will attempt to unravel the secret of the enduring impact of Henry James' masterpiece in a discussion with writers György Dragomán and Anna Szabó T.

The discussion will take place before the performance in the Auditorium, with admission open to anyone who is holding a valid ticket for the opera performance on 9 or 10 September and pre-registered on our website.

Presented by: Budapest Festival Orchestra, Müpa Budapest