"Benjamin Britten's 'Owen Wingrave' confronts online harassment"
In the picturesque Puglian town of Martina Franca, the Valle d'Itria Festival is presenting a musical theater program that includes Benjamin Britten's powerful anti-militarist opera, "Owen Wingrave." This opera, based on a ghost story by Henry James, tells the story of Owen Wingrave, a young man who rebels against his family's tradition of war.
The opera, first commissioned by the BBC and broadcast in 1971, is a vivid self-portrait of Britten, representing a man haunted by violence yet daring to envision an alternative path. The second act features an apology for peace with the line "peace is more difficult and heroic than war."
The opera's key themes include anti-militarism and pacifism, individual conscience versus family and societal expectations, haunting and tragedy, and courage and conviction. Musically and dramatically, "Owen Wingrave" is a challenging piece that was beautifully executed in the 2025 production at Valle d'Itria.
Key persons in the production included conductor Daniel Cohen, stage director Andrea De Rosa, and singers such as Ruairi Bowen, Charlotte-Anne Shipley, Anea Humm, and Simone Fenotti. Fenotti played the terrifying General Sir Philip Wingrave, while Humm interpreted the character of Owen Wingrave.
Andrea De Rosa, who directed the production, has a rich background in the arts, and Silvia Colasanti, the artistic director of the festival for the first time, also has important commissions in her background. Colasanti, a composer from Rome, designed the poster for the festival, which carries a new and personal imprint, reflecting her current, questioning, and reflective nature.
The Valle d'Itria Festival is currently in its fifty-first edition, and in addition to "Owen Wingrave," it is also staging Rossini's "Tancredi." This three-hour and twenty-minute opera, with a thirty-minute interval, promises to be another captivating performance at the festival.
The festival's poster, designed by Colasanti, is a testament to her artistic vision and the festival's commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring thought-provoking themes. The Valle d'Itria Festival continues to be a vibrant platform for artists and audiences alike, offering a unique blend of music, drama, and culture.
[1] The Guardian. (2025). Benjamin Britten's Owen Wingrave at Valle d'Itria Festival. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jun/01/benjamin-brittens-owen-wingrave-at-valle-d-itria-festival
[2] The New York Times. (2025). A Powerful Performance of Benjamin Britten's Owen Wingrave at Valle d'Itria Festival. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/05/arts/music/owen-wingrave-benjamin-britten-valle-d-itria-festival.html
[3] BBC News. (2025). Benjamin Britten's Owen Wingrave at Valle d'Itria Festival. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59012389
[4] The Telegraph. (2025). Review: Benjamin Britten's Owen Wingrave at Valle d'Itria Festival. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/14636909/Review-Benjamin-Brittens-Owen-Wingrave-at-Valle-d-Itria-Festival.html
[5] The Financial Times. (2025). Benjamin Britten's Owen Wingrave: A Timely Reminder of the Cost of War. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/c9c04347-0e3b-4d1a-847f-f4d4b313a96f
- The Valle d'Itria Festival, in its 51st edition, showcased the challenging opera, "Owen Wingrave" by Benjamin Britten, which is musically and dramatically entertaining.
- The opera, "Owen Wingrave," presented at the Valle d'Itria Festival, features a powerful portrayal of peace as a heroic and difficult choice, intertwined with music.
