Glyndebourne Streams Benjamin Britten's 'Turn Of The Screw' Opera (VIDEO)

'Turn Of The Screw' Is An Online Hit

Even if you couldn't make it to England for the Glyndebourne Festival this summer, you can watch a full opera streamed from the site right at home.

Glyndebourne, in partnership with The Guardian, streamed the entirety of Benjamin Britten's two-act opera "The Turn of the Screw" (based on the Henry James classic) live on Sunday, without any commercial breaks or interruptions. The opera is now available to view online until Sept. 12. Earlier this summer, they streamed Richard Wagner's opera "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg."

Britten's work is a chamber opera, eschewing the grand scale often associated with opera for this psychologically searing tale of two children, their new governess and a haunted British country house. The opera benefits from director Jonathan Kent's eerie vision and Paul Brown's gothic sets, which throw Britten's intensity into high relief.

On the video, viewers have the luxury of taking in close-ups as well as wide shots that display the full set. Though the opera is in English, subtitles are provided.

The Telegraph's Rupert Christiansen wrote:

Here is Britten’s supremely crafted operatic masterpiece – not a dud moment or false move – in a shatteringly powerful performance of such musical and theatrical distinction that I scarcely know where to begin apportioning praise.

Befitting the livestreamed web experience, classical musical lovers took to Twitter to narrate their viewing experiences. Lest you think Twitter trends pertain only to Justin Bieber and replacing movie names with bacon, take heart: During the livestream of the performance, #turnofthescrew was actually in Twitter's top trends.

Watch Act I below:

Click here to watch Act II on The Guardian's website.

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