Francis Poulenc wrote the one-act opera La Voix Humaine in 1958, which is based on a play by Jean Cocteau. It tells the story of a woman who talks on the phone with an old lover. The story is about love, despair, and being alone. The opera is usually sung by a soprano and focuses on emotional nuance, delicate phrasing, and expressive vocal techniques. The simple orchestration, which includes only a piano, makes the singer's voice stand out and creates an intimate, dramatic experience that has thrilled audiences in opera houses all over the world for decades.
La Voix Humaine has been a mainstay in the 20th-century opera repertoire since it first opened at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. Famous sopranos like Denise Duval and Felicity Lott have given famous performances. The opera is often performed in Europe, North America, and Asia, and depending on the size of the production, it can draw crowds of 200 to 1,000 people. Its mix of spoken dialogue, emotional monologue, and complex musical phrasing has had an impact on modern chamber opera.
The soprano sings 800 to 1,000 words of continuous monologue with expressive piano accompaniment. Performances usually last 35 to 40 minutes. Minimal sets and being close to the performers make the audience more involved. Fans can buy La Voix Humaine tickets on Yadara, which lets them see emotionally charged one-act operas. Attendees see precise singing, dramatic tension, and nuanced storytelling, all of which make for unforgettable live opera performances.