Organization

Singer

Baritone

Ross Ramgobin

Owen Wingrave

Soprano

Susan Bullock

Mrs Wingrave

Madeleine Pierard

Mrs Julian

Janis Kelly

Mrs Coyle

Bass-baritone

William Dazeley

Spencer Coyle

Mezzo-soprano

Kitty Whately

Kate

Tenor

Richard Berkeley-Steele

Gen Sir Philip Wingrave

James Way

Lechmere

Narrator

Stage director

Stephen Medcalf

Conductor

James Henshaw

Video designer

Fintan O'Connor

Sound designer

Tom Marshall

Pianist

Chris Hopkins

Percussion

Craig Apps

Grange Park Opera

English

Surrey

United Kingdom

Grange Park Opera, Surrey

Henry James’ ghost story Owen Wingrave tells of an army family – the Wingraves – who have locked away a hideous secret in their grand house, Paramore. Owen is the heir; all hell breaks loose when he announces that the army isn’t for him.

 Filmed over five September days, director Stephen Medcalf explains: “A minimal crew maintained distancing in intimate domestic interiors and COVID restrictions required the cast to costume themselves. I’ve given full rein to the satirical, often blackly comic aspects of the opera. Alongside that there are three serious themes: the pressure from society to conform; the courage it takes to stand up for who we really are; the destructive love of family.”

 In the words of Henry James: “A piece of ingenuity pure and simple, of cold artistic calculation, an amusette to catch those not easily caught.”

The opera is presented with the kind collaboration of Faber Music and The Britten Estate.

Owen Wingrave Britten

Public

Approved

Photos