· Classical
Poulenc's "La Voix Humaine" presented within the Francophonie
The famous mono-opera " The Human Voice" ("La Voix Humaine" ) by Francis Poulenc based on Jean Cocteau's work was presented within the Francophonie season at Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall. The title role in the mono-opera plays Varsenik Avanyan, mezzo-soprano, the soloist of A. Spendiaryan opera and ballet theater. Director: Davit Hakobyan, piano accompaniment: Vasil Rolich, French language coach - Serine-Lyuba Tadevosyan.
"La Voix Humaine", an unusual work subtitled “Lyric Tragedy”, was created ten years after Dialogues of the Carmelites. Francis Poulenc composed this operatic monologue for Denise Duval, his favorite singer, who created the role under the direction of Georges Prêtre, with staging and scenery by Jean Cocteau, who also wrote the libretto. Putting to music his friend Cocteau’s monodrama, in which the telephone becomes the main character in a sentimental drama, was an extraordinary tour de force for the composer. How could interest be maintained during this long monologue by a woman left by her lover whom she tries to win back in a phone conversation interrupted by technical glitches? Only Arnold Schönberg had attempted a similar experience in 1924 with his monodrama Erwartung, another monologue by a woman looking for her lover.
The Armenian premiere of "La Voix Humaine" mono-opera took place on July 7, 2021, at A. Spendiaryan Opera and the ballet theater stage.
"La Voix Humaine", an unusual work subtitled “Lyric Tragedy”, was created ten years after Dialogues of the Carmelites. Francis Poulenc composed this operatic monologue for Denise Duval, his favorite singer, who created the role under the direction of Georges Prêtre, with staging and scenery by Jean Cocteau, who also wrote the libretto. Putting to music his friend Cocteau’s monodrama, in which the telephone becomes the main character in a sentimental drama, was an extraordinary tour de force for the composer. How could interest be maintained during this long monologue by a woman left by her lover whom she tries to win back in a phone conversation interrupted by technical glitches? Only Arnold Schönberg had attempted a similar experience in 1924 with his monodrama Erwartung, another monologue by a woman looking for her lover.
The Armenian premiere of "La Voix Humaine" mono-opera took place on July 7, 2021, at A. Spendiaryan Opera and the ballet theater stage.
