Opera McGill Wins NOA Opera Production Competition 2021-2022
Opera McGill takes First Place in Division III of the National Opera Association (NOA) Opera Production Competition 2021-2022 for their production of The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten (libretto by Myfanwy Piper)!
Produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Britten’s The Turn of the Screw was filmed in collaboration with the Sound Recording Area under the direction of George Massenburg. The innovative production was in full costume, but in order to adhere to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines at the time, was filmed without traditional staging, choosing instead to capture each singer in their own frame. Not only did having characters isolated fulfill necessary COVID-19 protocols but it also served to highlight the psychological and theatrical aspects of the opera. Schulich voice students thrived under the steady guidance of Opera McGill’s artistic director, Patrick Hansen and music director, Stephen Hargreaves, who, together with the McGill Symphony Orchestra brought the Britten score to life. The Turn of the Screw was thoughtfully selected for its small cast and musical ensemble, flexibility in location and duration. It was webcast live to an enthusiastic public in February 2021. The production is a testament of how, with clear vision and commitment, art will thrive in even the most trying of circumstances. We applaud the many imaginative and talented students and faculty who made The Turn of the Screw possible.
Highly coveted, the NOA rewards creative, high quality opera productions at academic institutions and conservatories. Judging criteria includes musicianship, quality of singing, diction, characterization, production concept/execution and the ultimate quality of the production. Previous winners include Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Peabody Institute, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, Moores Opera Center (U of Houston), University of North Texas, and Arizona State University.
To watch the opera and relive the award-winning performances for a limited rebroadcast, visit our links below!
