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.