The Human Voice / The Bear at Finnish National Opera

The Almi Hall hosts an evening of opera in a double bill featuring Francis Poulenc's La voix humaine (The Human Voice) and William Walton's The Bear.

A woman and a phone - the trappings of the first one-act opera are minimal and yet the one-sided conversation the audience is privy to reveals the full story of our heroine's unrequited love and tragic fate. Emotions are further emphasized by Francis Poulenc's melodic score. La voix humaine is one of the true little gems of 20th century opera.

When the widow Popova meets her creditor Smirnov, surprising facts are unveiled about her dead husband. Based on a play by Anton Chekhov, The Bear is an intense one-act opera, carried with comic and tender prowess by William Walton's music.