Francis Poulenc - Extrait de 'La Voix Humaine' (Mezzo-soprano: Franziska Weber)

Mezzo-soprano: Franziska Weber
Pianist: André Callegaro
Recording: Hochschule für Musik und Theater München / January 2022
'GesangsArt' Concert
Francis Poulenc's mono-opera 'La Voix Humaine' for one voice and orchestra, based on a play by french poet Jean Cocteau, was composed in 1958 and first performed in 1959 at the Théâtre National de l'Opéra-Comique in Paris. The one-act opera consists of a long telephone conversation between a woman and her ex-lover after their breakup. It's not clear why they had to terminate their relationship, but it seems there is still a lot of emotion involved. The woman is suicidal - and lies about it, until eventually confessing to him, not least because she hopes to keep him in the line. She struggles with having to end the call at some point, knowing that hanging up will mean the final destination of her purpose as well.