La Voix humaine, Point d’orgue

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March 2026
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La Voix humaine – Francis Poulenc / Jean Cocteau | Opera
Point d’orgue – Thierry Escaich / Olivier Py
Duration: approximately 45min | 1h10
Sung in French, with French/English surtitles
Performance with audio description: Sunday, March 15, 2026, 5:00 PM

 

A mirror effect with contemporary resonance, where Poulenc “converses” with composer Thierry Escaich.

 

 

In 1958, two years after Dialogues of the Carmelites, Poulenc composed La Voix humaine, a one-act work for a single female character, alone in the emotional chaos of a romantic breakup. Thierry Escaich, a multifaceted composer with a rich orchestral language infused with sacred resonance, was the natural choice to create a mirror piece to Poulenc’s work. The challenge was to imagine a continuation of Poulenc’s monologue—a renewed dialogue between “Her” and “Him.” Opposite Cocteau’s words, those of Olivier Py—a man of the theater with a modern voice—offer a vision that is both human and humanist in this couple’s exchange. The quartet of Patricia Petibon, Cyrille Dubois, Jean-Sébastien Bou, and Olivier Py premiered this production in an empty hall in March 2021, as Covid gripped the world. The desire to bring them together again, to see and hear this mirror evening, became self-evident. They had succeeded—with the support of set designer Pierre-André Weitz—in powerfully sharing a commitment to contemporary creation. At its core, this diptych is about dialogue: between two individuals on the brink of rupture, between words, and between two musicians both sensitive and profoundly modern.

Program and cast

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

The Théâtre des Champs- Elysées is undoubtedly one of the finest venues in Paris . Built in 1913 , it has the distinction of having been designed by a group of artists architects Henry Van de Velde and Auguste Perret , the painter and sculptor Antoine Bourdelle , the painter Maurice Denis , and the crystal- René Lalique to do mention the main ones . He was the first Parisian theater to be built entirely of reinforced concrete.

 

Restoration of the Great Hall devoted to operatic performances , symphony concerts and dance was decided in 1985. Two years later , on 23 September 1987, the theater reopened its doors , completely renovated. Fifteen years after this important work it was decided to undertake a new renovation campaign , but to prevent the complete closure of the theater for an entire season , work is now carried by step during the summer . Then it is to replace aging equipment , to remedy wear certain parts of the theater and improve spectator comfort and artists during their visit . Thus in recent years, including the work involved the renovation of marble facade, replacing the carpet in the room with wooden floors , installation of a new fully decorated wooden concert to a significant improvement of acoustics, the orchestra pit and stage below .

 

The Théâtre des Champs- Elysées is now a modern working tool receiving each year nearly 300,000 spectators and a few thousands of artists and collaborators.

 

The Théâtre des Champs- Elysées , the jewel of French architecture of the twentieth century, was in 1953 one of the first buildings of contemporary architectural heritage to be classified as historic monuments . Since 1970 the Caisse des Dépôts owns the entire building 15 avenue Montaigne and principal patron of the theater.

 

For over a century, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has been the place where the most celebrated artists have come to make their names in Paris. The world’s finest orchestras and world-class soloists have always been a fixture at the Theatre. Théâtre des Champs-Elysées presents more than 200 concerts each year and is renowned for its outstanding performances of all genres, from classical music concerts and staged opera to contemporary dance and jazz.

 

How to reach us:
 

Subway: Alma-Marceau (line 9), Franklin D.Roosevelt (line 1), Pont de l’Alma (RER line C)

Bus: n° 42, 63, 72, 80, 92
Taxi station: Place de l’Alma, corner of avenue George V
Car park: Alma George V. The entrance is in front of n° 19, avenue George V
Fixed rate depending on the length of the performance. Payment upon entering.

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