In partnership with the Opera Program at the Boston Conservatory, the
French Cultural Center is thrilled to welcome a young and talented
opera singer Sophie-Nouchka Wemel for a performance of the one-act
opera, La voix humaine.
Written in 1928, Jean Cocteau's monodrama La voix humaine premiered in
1930. It was almost 30 years later when French composer Francis Poulenc
composed his operatic treatment of the material, in collaboration with
both Cocteau as well as operatic soprano Denise Duval (whom Poulenc
thoughtfully referred to as a "co-composer"). Madame Duval gave the
premiere performance of the opera at the Théâtre National de
l'Opéra-Comique in Paris on February 6, 1959.
Originally set in 1920s Paris-- where, at the time, the telephone system was rudimentary and often unreliable-- La voix humaine depicts the final telephone conversation between a woman and her lover seeking closure on their tragically romantic separation.
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Featuring
Sophie-Nouchka Wemel, soprano as Elle
Find out what's happening in Back Baywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
With
Jean Anderson Collier, music director and pianist
Nathan Troup, production and stage director
Reception to follow the concert.
About Sophie-Nouchka Wemel
The French soprano Sophie-Nouchka Wemel is a second-year Master’s
degree candidate at the Boston Conservatory, under the tutelage of
Kathryn Wright. Previous credits include the title role of The Cunning Little Vixen by Janacek, La Voix humaine by Poulenc, Alcyone by Ravel, Lia in Debussy's L'Enfant prodigue, Colombine in Grétry's Le Tableau parlant, and Isabelle in Mozart's L'Oie du Caire. Opera scenes include Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Norina (Don Pasquale). Her repertoire also includes the roles of Musetta (La Bohème) and Serpetta (La Finta Giardiniera). Last summer, she premiered the French Suite at
the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. She also has given many recitals in
renowned Parisian venues such as Salle Pleyel, Archives de Paris, Musée
d'Orsay, Musée d'Art Moderne, Musée de la Mode et du Design, Petit
Palais, and the Wanderlust. Next Spring, she will be performing Lucia
in The Rape of Lucretia.
About the Opera Program at the Boston Conservatory
The Boston Conservatory is rapidly becoming one of the premiere
training programs for young opera singers. Students come from all over
the United States as well as France, Switzerland, Columbia, Canada, the
United Kingdom, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. The Boston Conservatory
provides extensive training in the skills needed for a career in opera.
Member Price: $10.00
Non-Member Price: $15.00
RSVP Required (call 617-912-0400)
Students with valid School ID: $10.00
