“La voix humaine”, in the MUHBA
The opera, a one-act monologue by Francis Poulenc and Jean Cocteau, can be seen on Thursday the 28th of August in the antechamber of the Saló del Tinell
La voix humaine is a short, one-act opera composed by Parisian musician and composer Francis Poulenc in 1958 based on a text by Jean Cocteau adapted from his own homonymous stage play from 1930. The 40-minute piece features just one character, a desperate woman who is making a final plea to the man who has abandoned her.
The production in question is in many ways a unique and personal adaptation and while it does take some liberties it is generally faithful to the original work by Poulenc and Cocteau. The piece can be seen in the Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA) as part of the series 30 minutes of music in the museum and features soprano and actress Uma Ysamat and pianist Emili Brugalla under the direction of Josep Maria Miró and with the collaboration of a small team of stagehands. The actress and pianist previously presented this version of the opera in front of the Brossa Espai Escènic in 2010.
The piece will be performed at 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm on Thursday the 28th of August in the antechamber of the Saló del Tinell. Prior to the first performance, at 6 pm, musicologist Francesc Cortés will present a conference entitled “Concerts a Barcelona, des del cafè fins al Liceu” (Barcelona concerts, from the cafeteria to the lyceum), which is included in the price of entry to the first performance. Tickets are priced at 12 € online and 15 € at the door. For more information, please consult the museum website.