Accomplished British composer Emily Hall is no stranger to the classical music world, having written for several ensembles and orchestras, including the London Sinfonietta, LSO, the Brodsky Quartet, Opera North, and the Hungarian Radio Choir, to name but a few. Hall has also a number of work and collaborations under her belt that go beyond the classical spectrum, namely with Oliver Coates, Mara Carlye, Mira Calix, Olivia Chaney, Lady Maisery, and David Sheppard.
Today she is releasing Folie à Deux, a concept album/opera commissioned by the Mahogany Opera Group. which Hall co-wrote with Icelandic author Sjon. Translating from French as ‘the folly of two’, which refers to a shared psychotic disorder, the album is described as “a sonic voyage into a shared psychosis where a delusion is transmitted from one person to another and is a lyrical and intense investigation into love and loneliness within a relationship”.
Folie à Deux was written for two singers, Swedish vocalist Sofia Jernberg and British tenor Allan Clayton, and it also features a specially created electro-magnetic harp, designed and built by David Sheppard and Jonathan Green. The album was mixed by Valgeir Sigurðsson in Reykjavík and co-produced by Valgeir.
Here’s a taste from the album, the majestic ‘mantra’. Head over to Emily Hall’s bandcamp straight after to buy/stream the whole album.

Folie à Deux is out now via Bedroom Community.