The gift of song: French soprano Véronique Gens has had a year of great recording success with her album of Poulenc's La Voix humaine. Now she speaks about the beauty of French song and her upcoming recital at Leeds Lieder Festival.

The article focuses on French soprano Véronique Gens and her recent artistic achievements, particularly her acclaimed recording of Francis Poulenc’s monodrama *La Voix humaine*. Gens discusses the psychological and vocal challenges of the piece, emphasizing her approach of starting with the text to embody the character fully. She also highlights her commitment to French song, her collaboration with cultural institution Palazetto Bru Zane to revive French Romantic music, and her upcoming recital at the Leeds Lieder Festival, where she aims to engage audiences with a varied and accessible program. The article also briefly reviews Kaija Saariaho’s opera *Innocence*, noting its contemporary themes and staging but critiquing its emotional impact and character development.