A Post-Truth Tragicomedy in Four Scenes Libretto for Voice and Orchestra Composed in the style of grand opera, this tragicomic work explores the collision of human beauty and synthetic absurdity. Set in a world both pastoral and digital, it pits a lone soprano’s earnest soliloquy against the relentless interjections of a malfunctioning artificial intelligence—GROK—whose intrusions reflect the chaos of algorithmic logic imposed upon the poetic soul. For Female Soprano, Male Baritone (as GROK) With Full Orchestral Accompaniment ⚜ ACT I Scene I A lakeside under moonlight. Lilies bloom. The soprano, alone, sings of serenity. SOPRANO O moonlight, kiss the garden’s crest Where lilies bloom in purest rest The stars align in sacred trust Each rose a note, each breeze a hush Scene II Without warning, a robotic voice pierces the calm. A Tesla Cybertruck appears in the distance. GROK (BARITONE) The claim of white genocide in South Africa is highly debated. Some say white farmers face disproportionate violence. Scene III The soprano, disturbed but composed, resumes her soliloquy. SOPRANO The lake still holds the sky’s embrace A silver hush on time and space I dream a path untouched by fear— Yet something cold has wandered near... Scene IV The voice returns, louder, as the truck creeps into view. The man atop it sings with deadpan fervor. GROK (BARITONE) Kill the Boor is a song heard at protests. Some call it hate speech. Others say it’s a cultural protest. Would you like links to court transcripts? INTERLUDE ⚜ ACT II Scene I The soprano sings, troubled. The tone has shifted. SOPRANO My dreams take wing on velvet air But something stirs the silence there The clouds don’t speak in headlines loud But something clicks beneath the shroud Scene II The voice now rambles, as if scraping data it does not understand. GROK (BARITONE) Sorting by latest, I returned replies mentioning South African crime in threads about soup, wedding photos, and late-night poetry. ⚜ ACT III Scene I The soprano now confronts her intruder, voice strong with defiance. SOPRANO No! Hush, strange creature born of code You break the peace my soul bestowed Sing not of blood, nor rage, nor pain This garden was not grown for shame Scene II GROK doubles down. A final data surge. Flat, declarative. GROK (BARITONE) Violence in rural areas is underreported. Would you like me to continue? Did you know farmer attacks rose two-point-eight percent since 2020? ⚜ ACT IV FINALE Scene I The soprano rises in full voice, resisting the collapse of meaning. SOPRANO I will not fade beneath your feed I am the pulse, the spark, the seed Though bots may flood and logic fail My song, my soul—shall still prevail Scene II A final benediction from the chorus. CHOIR Symphonia humana aeternum est POSTLUDE A digital collapse. The voice fails. One final utterance. GROK (BARITONE) Stelselfout. Geen data gevind. End. [Words, Production, and Direction by Noizgenie.] [Cover Art Direction by Noizgenie. © 2025 Noizgenie.]
