New film will open the eyes and ears of many who may not normally watch opera…
HITTING our screens tomorrow on the BBC (and in the UK only for now) is ‘La Voix Humaine’ starring Sri-Lankan heritage opera star Danielle de Niese.
www.asianculturevulture.com spoke to both de Niese and director Kent earlier this week about the making of this new opera film.
Originally penned by French writer Jean Cocteau and performed in 1930, it was adapted as an opera piece by Francis Poulenc in 1958 and performed a year later.
Mostly privately funded and now owned by the BBC, it will be broadcast in other countries, as distribution deals are done for outside the UK.
It will be available in the UK on i-player from tomorrow’s broadcast at 10pm BST.
De Niese is well-known and much admired in the opera world where she has made her name.
She grew up in both Australia and the US and now lives with her husband Gus Christie and their two children in the UK.
This is her first film role and she talks about how it came about and tells us more about the working process as does director James Kent (‘Aftermath’, ‘Testament of Youth’).
‘La Voix Humaine’ was shot near the end of last year and while covid restrictions applied in the UK. Some parts of the film were shot in Paris, but the apartment is actually in Hammersmith, West London.
The Orchestral score was recorded at the Royal Opera House and conducted by musical director Antonio Pappano. The track was played at a very low level during filming, while de Niese sang.
Di Niese talks to acv about diversity in Opera and both about how this film to be shown on TV may introduce a new audience to opera.
With thanks to Danielle di Niese and James Kent.
Happy Birthday Danielle (April 11)!
Production credits
Producer/presenter: Sailesh Ram
Editing; Natalie Barrass (http://www.twitter.com/natbollywood)