Music Biennale Zagreb
Les Murs meurent aussi by François Sarhan
François Sarhan’s new work is a darkly comedic musical theater piece set against the backdrop of armed conflicts. It explores the impact of walls and borders on identity through video reenactments and live performance.
What impact do walls and borders — their movement, erection, destruction, and crossing — have on people?
Contemporary conflict zones in Ukraine, Palestine, and elsewhere serve as the starting point for François Sarhan’s latest creation: a theatrical, musical, and documentary investigation based on testimonies and current materials, exploring identities shaped by violence. It reveals the range of anti-missile products from the Israeli company Elbit Systems or the tragic fate of Yakut shaman Alexander Gabyshev, who was sentenced to psychiatric internment for life after attempting to exorcise Vladimir Putin.
In English, German, Arabic, French, Russian, and Ukrainian
French surtitles
With United Instruments of Lucilin
violin, Winnie Cheng
viola, Danielle Hennicot
electric guitar, Srđan Berdović
keyboard, Pascal Meyer
percussion, Guy Frisch
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Composition: François Sarhan
Dramaturgy, translation, and subtitling: Maria Buzhor
Costumes: Lea Søvsø
Sound: Camille Lézer
Technical direction and lighting: Eric Slunecko
Performance: Daniel Agi, Janina Ahh, Marie Buzhor, Julia Lwowski
Commissioned by Musica, United Instruments of Lucilin
Produced by United Instruments of Lucilin
Co-produced by Musica, La Muse en Circuit – CNCM, TVL
With the support of the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung