Scott Walker is to premiere his new score for ROH2 in a special event later this month.
Scott Walker is one of the most powerful, influential songwriters to emerge from pop music. This might seem like high praise, but the fact remains that few have so effortlessly combined high art and popular culture to such a provocative effect.
Each new project from the singer causes ripples amongst his fans, with news of an opera project emerging earlier this year. Commissioned by ROH2 ‘Duet For One’ is set to receive its premiere later this month.
Jean Cocteau’s monologues provide the inspiration for an evening of opera and dance in the Linbury Studio Theatre, with Royal Opera House associate artist Aletta Collins and esteemed director Tom Cairns set to present two contrasting dramatic pieces in two different art-forms.
Taking place on June 17th, the premiere will see Scott Walker score ‘Duet For One’. Aletta Collins dramatically re-imagines Cocteau’s monologue ‘Duet For One Voices’ with completely new music.
“I must admit to not really being an admirer of Cocteau. I am, however, an admirer of Aletta Collins and her work” he explained.
“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.”
The Scott Walker scored performance is only the first half of the show. The second part of the evening features a one act opera – the Tom Cairns staging of Poulenc’s opera ‘La Voix Humaine’.
Conductor Garry Walker will take control, with the Southbank Sinfonia providing orchestration.
‘Cocteau Voices – Duet for One and La Voix Humaine’ runs between June 17th – 25th in the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House.