Under a country’s authoritarian regime, being gay is a harshly punished crime. A crime for which Zylan, a young pop singer, is persecuted, tried, imprisoned, and at last forced to name names during numerous interrogations. Zylan Won’t Sing Anymore is a monodrama, a rare form of opera centred on the character and baring his every thought. Composer Diana Soh and librettist Yann Verburgh wished to create an opera fit for all, especially for teenagers, a sung piece on a major current issue, still underrepresented in the field of opera: homophobia. The piece blends music with spoken and sung voice and recounts the sealing of Zylan’s fate through the performance of a tenor and three musical instruments – cello, guitar, and percussion. This thought-provoking opera echoes the abuse suffered in our own world by those whose sexual orientation is seen as dissident.

Maarten Stragier

Events

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26 - 29 Jan, 2027

Zylan Won’t Sing Anymore · Opéra National De Lyon

Future and recently performed repertoire

Guitar in Zylan Won’t Sing Anymore by Soh

Opéra National De Lyon

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