La voix humaine (English: The Human Voice) is a forty-minute, one-act opera for soprano and orchestra composed by Francis Poulenc in 1958. The work is based on the play of the same name by Jean Cocteau, who, along with French soprano Denise Duval, worked closely with Poulenc in preparation for the opera's premiere. Poulenc's tragédie lyrique was first performed at the Théâtre National de l'Opéra-Comique in Paris on 6 February 1959, with Duval singing the female role and Georges Prêtre conducting; the scenery, costumes and direction were by Cocteau.
| Original Name | La voix humaine |
| Librettist | Jean Cocteau |
| Date of composition | 1958 |
| Premiered | 1959, February 6th (Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique) in Paris, France |
| First published | 1959 |
| Type | Tragédie en musique (Musical Tragedy) |
| Catalogue | FP 171 |
| Approx. duration | 40 minutes |
| Spoken language | French |
| Instruments |
Voice (Soprano)
Orchestra |
| Links | |
| Autotranslations beta |
Francis Poulenc: The Human Voice, FP 171 Francis Poulenc: The Human Voice, FP 171 Francis Poulenc: The Human Voice, FP 171 |