Un’opera dimenticata di un «contestataire contesté». «Syro Sadun Settimino» di Sylvano Bussotti

Sylvano Bussotti’s «operina monodanza in un atto di notte» «Syro Sadun Settimino o “il trionfo della Grand’Eugenia”» (Royan, 1974) tells the story of a lad who was born at seven months, who understands to be homosexual but has to reckon with his male chauvinist father. It is a significant example of the subversive power of Bussotti’s music theatre, who stands out for his provocative breaking of all sexual taboos and for the explicit representation of homoeroticism and non-normative gender identities in his works. The literary sources of the work are deeply analysed to identify the thematic elements that can be related to the topic of sexual and gender non-normativity. The score reading is then oriented to identify music features that express power relations between two forces suggesting either oppression by the heteronormative society or resistance by the main character who embodies the marginalised identity. Finally particular attention is paid to the socio-historical context where the work was written, focusing to the mainstream perception of homosexuality and to the spread of homophobia. The inquiry highlights how Bussotti uses music theatre to explore homosexual identity, tell experiences of marginalisation, challenge discriminatory prejudices and destabilize the exclusionary machinery of dominant homophobic thought.