WNO celebrate World Opera Day with new digital adaptation of 20th century classic

Welsh National Opera will release a new filmed version of Poulenc’s La voix humaine to coincide with World Opera Day (25 October), starring soprano Claire Booth as L.  The film will be free to view and available on the Company’s website for six months. Whilst free to access, audiences will be able to make a voluntary donation to support the future work of the Company if they wish.

Originally conceived for WNO and Festival of Voice in 2016 and performed in a flat in Penarth, South Wales, for this version Claire was again directed by Sir David Pountney, and joined by pianist Christopher Glynn.

The concept for this new digital adaptation is an intimate Zoom party at L’s studio flat, during which L receives a phone call from her lover who is ending their relationship.  The medium of film offers an intimate gaze on this one-act opera, with viewers bearing witness to the range of emotions experienced by L from joy and desire to devastation and deep despair.

Claire opened up her own home to allow filming and recording to happen, which took place in Oxfordshire in September under social distancing guidelines.  The opera has been recorded ‘as live’, with Claire singing to Christopher’s piano accompaniment which was taking place in a separate room in the house.  Multiple cameras were used to record the piece creating a performance piece that can be viewed as though it were in real time. David Pountney’s artistic vision was translated for film by Director of Photography Harry Zundel from TMAX Productions, and through conversations between David and Claire to discuss L’s physical journey.

Claire Booth says: “The twin themes of loneliness and communication were pretty timeless before the pandemic, but of course there’s an incredible resonance to L’s story in these times, and I don’t think there’s anyone who can’t relate to a story of lost love and the need to connect, choosing either to put on a mask or show vulnerability.”

WNO General Director Aidan Lang says: “We are delighted to be able to bring this piece to audiences, fittingly in time for World Opera Day, and are grateful to Claire who really has gone above and beyond by opening up her home to us and allowing for this to happen.

“This period has shown us the potential of digital work if it is created expressly for that medium.  Nobody would seriously suggest that a digital experience can ever replace a live performance, but this is a perfect example of a piece of operatic repertoire that translates well to film and allows for an immersive and intimate experience of the highest quality.”

La voix humaine will be available from the WNO and Wales Millennium Centre websites, and on WNO’s YouTube channel, for six months from Sunday 25 October at 6pm.

For further information and to access the film from 25 October, visit wno.org.uk/humaine

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Notes to Editors

• Welsh National Opera is the national opera company for Wales, funded by the Arts Councils of Wales and England to provide large scale opera, concerts and outreach work across Wales and to major cities in the English regions. We endeavour to provide transformative experiences through our education and outreach programme and our award-winning digital projects. We work with our partners to discover and nurture young operatic talent, and we aim to show future generations that opera is a rewarding, relevant and universal art form with the power to affect and inspire
• WNO production images are available for download at www.wno.org.uk/press
• For more information, photos or interviews please contact:
  Rachel Bowyer / Penny James, Press and Public Affairs Manager (job share)
  029 2063 5038
  rachel.bowyer@wno.org.uk / penny.james@wno.org.uk
  
  Christina Blakeman, Press Officer
  christina.blakeman@wno.org.uk 

• The trailer for La voix humaine is available here