~
vinyl LP front cover
cover illustration by Jean Cocteau
photo of album cover by Styrous®
Today is the birthday of French composer and pianist, Francis Poulenc who was born on January 7, 1899, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. His compositions include songs
(this album fits into this category), solo piano works, chamber music,
choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music.
La voix humaine (English: The Human Voice) is a forty-minute, one-act opera for soprano and orchestra composed by Francis Poulenc in 1958. It premiered on the 6th of February in 1959 at the Opéra Comique in Paris.
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 with Duval as the solo singer and Georges Prêtre conducting (both perform in this recording); the scenery, costumes and direction were by Cocteau.
The libretto consists of a woman's last phone conversation with her lover, who now
loves someone else. During the call, the woman reveals that she has
attempted suicide because her lover has abandoned her.
performance of La voix humaine
date & photographer unknown
This recording should rightly only go in the "Just the cover" category (link below)
but it's too good to confine it to that. The reasoning is: it is a
brilliant work by Poulenc, a work of genius, revealing naked emotions
rarely exhibited on the stage with such realism; it is an integral part
of the art of Denise Duval
that showcases her acting as well as her vocal prowess; and it is an amazing operatic voyage into the mind of a woman as she
grapples with grief, denial, and anger in the face of unrequited love,
all shared through a one-sided telephone call.
La voix humaine ~ album:
Each
Soria Series album came in a thick, heavy-duty textured sleeve (some
with an elegant cut-out on the reverse for pulling the disc out), golden
embossed type, and glossy full-color reproduction overlaid. Double and
triple boxsets had sliding tops and decorated spines.
vinyl LP front cover details
cover illustration by Jean Cocteau
detail photos of album cover by Styrous®
Francis Poulenc ~ La voix humaine
vinyl LP back cover detail of linen fabric
detail photo by Styrous®
Francis Poulenc ~ La voix humaine
linen covered vinyl LP records box cut-out detail
detail photo by Styrous®
All
details, including the tracklist, were in booklets, designed and
printed at the world's most expensive and prestigious publishing houses,
such as Amilcare Pizzi S.p.A. in Italy and Skira Color Studios in
Switzerland. They came with comprehensive essays (about composers,
genres, or period instruments), definitive and eloquent libretto
translations, lavish "tipped-in" colored reproductions, etc.
Illustration By Jean Cocteau
Illustration By Jean Cocteau
photo by Gaby Morlay
Illustrations By Jean Cocteau
Illustrations By Jean Cocteau
photos from the Paris premiere by Boris Lipnitzki
photos from the Paris premiere by Boris Lipnitzki
photo by Jean-Pierre Leloir
Illustration By Jean Cocteau
photo by Fred Plaut
photo by Claude Morel
photo by Erio Piccagliani
photo: Studio Harcourt
Illustrations By Jean Cocteau
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Side 1:
A - La Voix Humaine
Side 2:
B - La Voix Humaine
Companies, etc.
Recorded By – Ricordi Studios
Copyright © – Société Anonyme des Éditions Ricordi
Credits:
Conductor – Georges Prêtre
Design, Booklet Editor – Philip Sykes
Illustration, Text By – Jean Cocteau
Liner Notes – Janet Flanner
Liner Notes, Other [Essay] – Henri Hell
Music By, Liner Notes – Francis Poulenc
Orchestra – Théâtre National de L'Opéra-Comique*
Photography – Boris Lipnitzki, Claude Morel, Erio Piccagliani, Fred Plaut, Gaby Morlay, Jean-Pierre Leloir, Studio Harcourt
Recorded By – "Ricordi"
Soprano Vocals – Denise Duval
Translated By – Joseph Machlis
Notes:
Original 1960 "Soria Series" RCA Living Stereo LP with shaded dog label.
First issue of this cat # in a slipcase.
Recorded in France by Ricordi under the personal supervision of the composer.
Made in U.S.A.
Lyric Tragedy in One Act. Set includes a 21 page booklet, and comes housed in a light blue linen & Davey board slipcase.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Stamped side A): K2 RY4611-1S I A1
Matrix / Runout (Stamped side A): K2 RY4612-1S I A1
Matrix / Runout (Stamped side A): K2 RY4612-1S I A1
Denise Duval, Georges Prêtre Conducting Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra-Comique – Francis Poulenc: La Voix Humaine
Label: RCA Victor Red Seal – LS 2385
Series: Living Stereo, Soria Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo
Box Set, Slipcase
Country: US
Released: 1960
Genre: Classical
Style: Modern
Label: RCA Victor Red Seal – LS 2385
Series: Living Stereo, Soria Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo
Box Set, Slipcase
Country: US
Released: 1960
Genre: Classical
Style: Modern
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
Interlude ~ 6 February: Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine Premiered
Rockarchive Gallery Amsterdam ~ Jean-Pierre Leloir
UNT Digital Library ~ Poulenc's Psychological Drama La Voix humaine
YouTube links:
Francis Poulenc ~
La Voix Humaine (Denise Duval)
La Voix Humaine (w/English subtitles)
La Voix Humaine (W/French subtitles) 
photo: Galerie Roger-Viollet
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