Composer

:

Francis Poulenc

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1958

Average_duration

:

41:30

Movement_count

:

21

Movement ....

La voix humaine is a one-act opera composed by Francis Poulenc in 1958. The libretto, written by Jean Cocteau, is based on his own play of the same name. The opera tells the story of a woman, Elle, who is on the phone with her lover, who has left her for another woman. Throughout the course of the conversation, Elle reveals her desperation, loneliness, and ultimately, her suicidal intentions. The opera is scored for a single soprano and orchestra, with Poulenc's music perfectly capturing the emotional turmoil of the protagonist. The music is characterized by its lyrical melodies, dissonant harmonies, and sparse orchestration, which allows the singer's voice to take center stage. La voix humaine premiered on February 6, 1959, at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, with Denise Duval in the role of Elle. The opera was an immediate success, with critics praising Poulenc's music and Duval's performance. The opera is divided into three movements, with each movement corresponding to a different stage in Elle's emotional journey. The first movement, marked "Très calme," begins with Elle on the phone with her lover, trying to maintain a sense of composure despite her obvious distress. As the conversation progresses, however, her emotions begin to boil over, and the music becomes more agitated. The second movement, marked "Très agité," is the emotional climax of the opera. Elle's lover reveals that he is leaving her for another woman, and she becomes increasingly desperate and unhinged. The music is characterized by its dissonant harmonies and frenzied rhythms, perfectly capturing Elle's emotional turmoil. The final movement, marked "Très calme," is the most subdued of the three. Elle has resigned herself to her fate and is preparing to take her own life. The music is mournful and introspective, with Poulenc's sparse orchestration allowing the singer's voice to convey the full weight of Elle's despair. Overall, La voix humaine is a powerful and emotionally charged opera that showcases Poulenc's skill as a composer and Cocteau's talent as a librettist. Its timeless themes of love, loss, and desperation continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a staple of the operatic repertoire.

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