Soprano Giselle Allen returns with '˜The Turn of the Screw'

The performance takes place at the Millennium Forum on Tuesday, March 15 starring Belfast-born Soprano Giselle Allen, supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

‘The Turn of the Screw’ is widely regarded as one of the finest operas by perhaps the greatest British composer.

Scored for a small chamber orchestra and a cast of six, its haunting music and dramatic plot has also made it one of the most popular twentieth century operas, based on American author Henry James’ much-loved classic ghost story.

After a hugely successful Northern Irish tour in 2012, this production of ‘The Turn of the Screw’ toured to Buxton Festival and the Kolobov Novaya Theatre in Moscow, garnering praise from critics and the public along the way (“Not to be missed” – The Sunday Times) and now it is being revived and coming to the Londonderry stage.

Giselle is regularly in demand with many major UK and European opera companies, and has performed in leading roles with companies as far away as Canada and Singapore.

No stranger to the Northern Irish stage, Giselle has appeared with Northern Ireland Opera on several occasions, starring in the title roles of the 2011 Irish Times Theatre Award-winning production of Tosca in Londonderry, and 2015’s scandalous production of ‘Salome’ at the Grand Opera House. Other appearances include ‘The Flying Dutchman,’ NI Opera Shorts, and the original production of ‘The Turn of the Screw’ in 2012.

Northern Ireland Opera’s Artistic Director, Oliver Mears, who will be directing the revival, said he is looking forward to re-exploring one of the company’s most successful productions: “It is a spell-binding opera”, he said. “Having received such great success on both a local and international level, it made perfect sense to bring this production back to Northern Ireland to give new and returning audiences alike the opportunity to see it for themselves”.

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: “Northern Ireland Opera is one of our best artistic companies whose work truly celebrates and champions the quality of our arts sector here both regionally, nationally and internationally. Giselle is without doubt one of the finest sopranos working today and we’re very fortunate to have a singer of this calibre working in Northern Ireland.

Her outstanding performance in ‘Tosca’ in Londonderry in 2011 was talked about for a long time and I would encourage everyone to go along to enjoy this impressive production.”

‘The Turn of the Screw,’ Millennium Forum, March 15, 7:30pm, tickets £20 (student tickets £15), www.millenniumforum.co.uk