Their Master’s Voice

John Malkovich, known worldwide for his unique personality and voice, plays the famous Nicola Porpora, composer of 40 operas and singing teacher to the two most dazzling castrati of their time, Farinelli and Caffarelli. Brutally confronted with their egos, Porpora explores with them the limits of creation: what art allows us to say or not to say, to do or not to do. The characters oscillate dangerously between these two poles, on the verge of provocation.  

This role is perfectly suited to John Malkovich, an iconoclastic artist who has appeared in more than 70 films, including Dangerous Liaisons, in which he played the unforgettable Valmont, and Being John Malkovich, in which he played a satirical version of himself. Always on the lookout for daring projects, he now finds himself in Their Master's Voice, an original production combining brilliant repartee, flamboyant costumes, and the greatest arias of the Baroque era's castrati.  

Commissioned by the Monte Carlo Opera, Their Master’s Voice premiered in 2024 in Vienna and was a triumph at the Royal Opera of Versailles in Paris, among other venues. It is being presented in Quebec as part of a world tour.  

The show is the brainchild of Michael Sturminger, a director whose passion is to build new bridges between classical music and contemporary theater. Sturminger and Malkovich, who share a keen artistic vision, have collaborated in the past, notably on the 2014 film Casanova Variations. 

Their Master’s Voice, a rare theatrical event, is a brilliant fusion of baroque opera and witty theatricality, sure to delight those who have always dreamed of seeing the great John Malkovich on stage.