The Sound Voice Project

Raw and intimate

The installation combines music with film projections, visual art and an enthralling acoustic experience. Three raw, intimate portraits show you what life is like for people who have lost their voice, for example due to illness or a trauma. The result is an operatic experience that is both radical and moving. 

The Sound Voice Project has not only touched people; it has also been a powerful driver of innovation. Hannah Conway: “We’ve changed the course of a ground-breaking biomedical research project, transformed thinking and practice in healthcare, and stimulated new commercial voice technology. Most importantly, however, I hope that we’ve created works that invite audiences to think about the value of their own voices and offer a small insight into the lives and stories of people who have lost theirs.”

Paul

Paul is a ‘dual aria’ – a piece for one character (Paul), though sung by two performers: Paul Jameson (the real voice) and baritone Roderick Williams (Paul’s imagined voice).

Hannah Conway and Hazel Gould created this work based on conversations with Paul Jameson, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2017. The piece invites audiences to understand what ‘voice’ means to Paul as he loses his speech.

Paul Jameson: “The aria that’s featured in the installation was beautiful, powerful, and emotional. It made me feel as if I had my voice back again, and I felt very connected to Roddy Williams, who I performed the aria with.”

Discover the libretto of Paul

I Left My Voice Behind

I Left My Voice Behind was written for two choirs: one live choir (performed by members of Shout at Cancer, people who have undergone a laryngectomy – the surgical removal of the voice box) and a second digital choir, constructed from recordings of Shout at Cancer members pre-cancer, when their voice boxes were still intact. The choirs are joined by solo professional cello, with a digital counterpart crafted from old recordings of that cellist, mirroring the duet between live and digital choirs and collectively exploring renewal, transformation, and the birth of new vocal identities.

Shout at Cancer: “It meant a great deal to our members to be part of this project and to see our story compellingly included in an opera about voice and identity. Our strong message of resilience was beautifully conveyed to the audience, with an added layer of accessibility that evoked empathy and understanding.”

Discover the libretto of I Left My Voice Behind

Tanja

This piece was written for Tanja Bage and a professional soprano. Tanja, originally trained as a professional actor and singer, was 38 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer. One week after her diagnosis, her voice box was removed. This piece explores how the loss of her voice has impacted Tanja’s daily life: as a mother of two young children, in her relationships, and in facing the stigmas associated with being a woman who has undergone a laryngectomy.

Tanja Bage: “My involvement with Shout at Cancer and The Sound Voice Project gave me a new creative and expressive outlet at a time when everything still felt extremely raw. During a period when I was struggling with post-traumatic shock and the grief of everything I had been through, this played a huge role in how I processed the loss of my voice.”

Discover the libretto of Tanja