Film commission for Boston Ballet

Written by Jean Cocteau in 1928 and set to music by French composer Francis Poulenc in 1958, La Voix Humaine gives an insight into the heart and mind of a woman having a final phone conversation with her lover who is leaving her for someone else. In her isolation, solitude, desperation, and despair, she must deal with letting her beloved go and find a way to surrender into the big void.  

„As a multidisciplinary artist, working as choreographer and opera director, I am deeply interested in bringing my passion for dance and opera together; working with the body and the voice originates in the fundamentals of human existence—the breath.  In this short film I wanted to meld my passion for dance and opera together. I was drawn to La Voix Humaine for its relevance today. Themes of isolation, letting go of a loved one, and farewell resonate with me and many of us in the times we live in”   - Nanine Linning

Credits

CONCEPT, CHOREOGRAPHY & FILM DIRECTION - Nanine Linning

La Voix Humaine was commissioned by Boston Ballet and filmed April 2021 at the Citizens Bank Opera House, Boston

Produced by Scalped Productions

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY & EDITOR - Ernesto Galan

Boston Ballet Creative Team

COSTUME DESIGN - Shane Maxwell & Erica Desautels

HAIR DESIGN - Rachel Padula-Shufelt

SET DESIGN - Benjamin J. Phillips

LIGHTING DESIGN - Brandon Stirling Baker

SOUNDSCAPES - Mischa Santora & Rick Brenner

REHEARSAL DIRECTOR - Russell Kaiser

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER - Craig Margolis

CREATIVE PRODUCTION - Kristin Carr

Music

Francis Poulenc, La Voix Humaine, text by Jean Cocteau 

Original 1959 recording of La Voix Humaine with soprano Denise Duval and Orchestre National de 

l'Opéra-Comique, conducted by Georges Prêtre.* 

*By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes and Warner Music Group

Dancers

JI YOUNG CHAE   

DEREK DUNN, LASHA KHOZASHVILI, RYAN KWASNIEWSKI, SOO-BIN LEE, 

MOLLY NOVAK, BENJI PEARSON, LAWRENCE RINES, MY’KAL STROMILE, 

PAULINA WASKI, NATIONS WILKES-DAVIS 

The premiere of La Voix Humaine, choreographed and directed by Nanine Linning, is generously supported by the Krupp Endowment for Contemporary Dance. 

Special thanks to Peggy Olislaegers, Kyle Patrick, the Poulenc Estate, Thomas Guggi and Patrick Marin. 

PHOTOGRAPHY - Ernesto Galan (1) Brooke Trisolini