"I haven't voted for a woman who has something to hide"
La Voix humaine (The Human Voice) is a one-act opera composed by Francis Poulenc in 1958. The piece is based on the monologue of the same name by Jean Cocteau.
Throughout the entire piece, the protagonist, portrayed by Marianne Folkestad Jahren, is unnamed and communicates by phone with the person she loves. Using various strategies, she fights throughout the piece to avoid what she fears most – being abandoned.
La Voix humaine offers a theatrical and musical exploration of a person struggling after a painful breakup with someone they were once closest to. The performance reminds us of how important communication is, and the irony of it happening through a third party – a phone with poor reception.
The production highlights how crucial it is for our existence that we speak openly to one another as human beings.
Soprano: Marianne Folkestad Jahren
Pianist: Kristian Evjen
Director: Helga Guren
Scenography, Lighting, and Costumes: Phillip Isaksen
Producer: Kristin Steinsbø Vestergaard
Organizer: Opera Rogaland and Tou