Neither of these two one-act operas are among my favourites, but they make for very interesting hearing/viewing regardless. La Voix Humaine and The Telephone couldn't be more different, the former is a tragedy and has a dramatic soprano in the one role of the opera while the latter is a comic opera and requires a colouratura soprano. This is an excellent production. The costume and set design are nice and glamorous to look at, and it is photographed very beautifully. The orchestral playing have delicacy and power in their playing, maybe in La Voix Humaine they have a tendency to sound too Germanic, but still play convincingly and sound great. Jose Sebrerier's conducting is firm and flexible without being too rigid. The singing is right on the money. Russell Smythe is very good as Ben in The Telephone, but it is Carole Farley who is the star here in two roles that are completely different from one another. She is charming as Lucy and conveys her character's warmth and pain equally convincingly in La Voix Humaine. She also sings beautifully and very accurately, and her French likewise. The staging reflects the comedy of The Telephone and the tragedy of La Voix Humaine just as effectively. Overall, an excellent double-bill with a wonderful lead performance. 9/10 Bethany Cox
