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Scott Walker - World Premiere of New Scott Walker Score at the ROH2, London
Scott Walker : World Premiere of New Scott Walker Score at the ROH2, London
8th June 2011

Commissioned by ROH2, ROH Associate Artist Aletta Collins and esteemed director Tom Cairns present two contrasting dramatic pieces in two different artforms: one dance, one opera. Jean Cocteau's monologues provide the inspiration for an evening of opera and dance in the Linbury Studio Theatre.

In the world premiere of Duet for One, Collins re-imagines Cocteau’s monologue Duet For One Voice for dancers, with an original score by Scott Walker. Speaking of his collaboration with Aletta Collins, Scott Walker has said:

"I must admit to not really being an admirer of Cocteau. I am, however, an admirer of Aletta Collins and her work. So when Aletta asked me to collaborate with the intention of deconstructing the original script for dance, I was grateful for the challenge to help take what is essentially, in my humble opinion, an antiquated piece of misogyny (in this case, woman as willing victim) and try to turn it on its head and use its traces to create something new."

For the second part of the evening, Tom Cairns stages Poulenc’s opera La Voix Humaine. Acclaimed Italian soprano Nuccia Focile plays the only role in this one-act opera which is sung in English and based on Cocteau’s 1932 play. With conductor Garry Walker and the Southbank Sinfonia as the orchestra, the translation is provided by Richard Stokes, the design by Tom Cairns and the lighting design by Charles Balfour.

The inspiring synergy of music, voice and dance, fused with Cocteau’s themes of possession and abandonment were first explored by Collins and Cairns in their 2000 Channel 4 dance film, The Human Voice, from which the twin creative strands of Cocteau Voices grew.

Full program details:
Cocteau Voices – Duet for One and La Voix Humaine
17-25 June
7.45pm in the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House
Tickets £10.20 to £24.50, concessions available
Box Office: 020 7304 4000