Contemporary Music Theater and the Experience of Marginalization

In the frame of the debate on the role of classical music in our society, contemporary music theater assumes a particular relevance. Entering into contact with it can enrich our existences, broaden our horizons of experience and make us realize that classical music can also relate marginalized conditions of contemporaneity. In the second half of the twentieth century, music theater became a powerful instrument to break the boundaries between dichotomous categories of thought and to involve the audience in this transformation process. Sylvano Bussotti’s output is a significant example of the subversive power of music theater. A gay composer, he stands out for his provocative breaking of sexual taboos and for his explicit representation of homoeroticism and non-normative gender identities. Through a review of some of Bussotti’s almost forgotten works, the paper highlights how classical music can relate experiences of marginalization and challenge discriminatory prejudices.