La Voix humaine with Barbara Hannigan
About This Event
Event: La Voix humaine with Barbara Hannigan Venue: David Geffen Hall Genre: Classical Soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan presents Poulenc’s one-act opera, illustrating the poignant last exchange between former lovers through a multimedia format. The performance also features Richard Strauss’s Metamorphosen, a poignant tribute to the impact of war on human culture.
About La Voix humaine(opera)
Grant Triplow
Francis Poulenc’s *La Voix humaine* is a one-act, roughly 40-minute opera that compresses an entire breakup into a single phone call, heard from the woman’s side only. Adapted from Jean Cocteau’s play, it treats technology as a conduit for intimacy and for distortion, with the orchestra translating what the line will not carry. At David Geffen Hall, Barbara Hannigan performs with the New York Philharmonic, joined by Clemens Malinowski and visual artist Etienne Démoulin in a staging shaped by rehearsal craft and image-making. In New York, the piece reads as a mid‑century portrait of urban solitude, still current in an age of mediated speech.
About the Artists
New York Philharmonic
Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of the New York Philharmonic, one of the world's most prestigious classical music ensembles. With its home at the iconic David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, this orchestra serves as a cornerstone of New York City's vibrant cultural landscape.
Barbara Hannigan
Barbara Hannigan is a Canadian soprano and conductor known for her performances in contemporary and classical music, as well as her innovative interpretations of operatic roles.