fragment

The Human Voice

The Human Voice (La Voix Humaine) by Francis Poulenc (original text by Jean Cocteau)

Duration c.13-15mins

‘My nerves are bad tonight. Yes, bad. Stay with me
Speak to me. Why do you never speak? Speak.
What are you thinking of? What thinking? What?
I never know what you are thinking. Think.’

With text by Jean Cocteau, Poulenc’s 40 minute monodrama opera written in 1958 and in which the solo soprano sings down a telephone, deals with suicidal despair. St Stephen Walbrook is the church where the Samaritans were founded and has the original red telephone on display. The church also features a marble altar by Henry Moore, kneelers by Patrick Heron and a dome by Christopher Wren. The performance will be sung by Claire Booth.


artist

Claire Booth (soprano) and Christopher Glynn (piano)

Claire Booth (soprano) and Christopher Glynn (piano)

venue

St Stephen Walbrook

info@thewasteland2022.com

© fragments