THE HUMAN VOICE

A woman is on the telephone: recently abandoned by her lover, she clings to the receiver through which she hears his familiar voice. A cruel torment – to feel so close to someone and yet be unable to reach him with any of one’s senses.

Jean Cocteau’s monodrama LA VOIX HUMAINE, which premiered in 1930 at the Comédie-Française, inspired numerous stage interpretations of the woman on the telephone, from Anna Magnani to Ingrid Bergman to Tilda Swinton. In 1958, Francis Poulenc created his tragédie lyrique for soprano and orchestra after this model. The conversation unfolds through interruptions and interferences, and we experience its full force only through the music. At times, one wonders whether the voice at the other end of the line is still there at all.

At Theater Bonn, the role is performed by Yannick-Muriel Noah, who as an ensemble member has already delighted Bonn audiences in numerous leading roles – not only as a performer, but also as a director and set designer.