Work of the Week – Chaya Czernowin: NO!

Sometimes, art doesn't just reflect the world; it protests against it. Chaya Czernowin’s latest orchestral work, simply titled NO!, is a primal reaction to the crises of our time. On February 20, 2026, this visceral "Lament for the Innocent" arrives at the Maison de la Radio et de la Musique in Paris for its French premiere. Conducted by Alan Gilbert, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France—joined by sopranos Keren Motseri and Sofia Jernberg—will bring this sonic outcry to life.

The piece was born from a place of profound empathy. Czernowin began conceiving it during the first Trump administration as a reaction to the separation of families at the border. She completed it amidst the devastating events in the Middle East in 2023/24. As an Israeli-born composer, she felt an "internal scream" that had to find its way into music—a protest against the killing of innocents and the suffering of children in Gaza. What she initially thought would be a loud, aggressive shout eventually evolved into a haunting lament.

From Silence to Scream: Chaya Czernowin’s "NO!" Premieres in Paris

The Paris premiere presents Version II, scored for two sopranos and two orchestras of 24 musicians each, creating a massive, immersive wall of sound. In contrast, Version I—for one soprano and one orchestra (24 musicians)—will debut in Witten this April. This version utilizes a unique technical setup: a pre-recorded performance of the soprano and orchestra is played back through speakers, layering the live music with a ghostly, recorded echo of itself.

Following its world premiere at Disney Hall in May 2025 (which left the audience in a stunned silence before the applause broke ), the sheer physical power of the work became clear. It features two orchestras of similar composition on stage. The music builds from a single sustained note into a raging, high-intensity crescendo. The vocalists initially remain wordless, their voices reduced to heavy breathing, as if symbolically speechless from horror. When the words finally break through—"Don't take my child"—they land with the force of a primal scream.

This is not just a concert; it is a shared moment of humanity. Following the Paris performance, the work will travel to Vienna and Witten, continuing its journey as a necessary musical memorial for our present age.

Learn more:

• NO! – work page and online score

• Event Page Radio France

• Composer Profile Chaya Czernowin

_{photo Chaya Czernowin: Julia Wesely, background created with artificial intelligence}