The production of Benjamin Britten's darkest opera “The Turn of the Screw” presented in Moscow by the Saint Petersburg Mariinsky theatre, has been nominated for this year's “Golden Mask” – Russia's top theatre award.

The production was nominated in four categories. Among them for the best direction by David McVicar, who's staged several performances at Covent Garden.

This work with Britten's eerie music is often called a “thriller opera”. An adaptation of Henry James' gloomy tale, the production tells the story of mental torture, where children are haunted by ghosts.

Britten's musical arrangement was very specific. Not more than a dozen instruments are allowed to be played at once.

The producers of the mysterious opera trust the jurors won't be distracted by any supernatural powers.