‘Esperanza’ to premiere Aug. 25

Opera and labor have linked forces to create a powerful musical and theatrical show, “Esperanza,” which will premiere Friday, Aug. 25, at Music Hall.

Details: Performances, all at 8 p.m., are Aug. 25, 26, 28 and 30. Tickets are now on sale at the Memorial Union Box Office, 608262-2201. Tickets are $18 and $25 for adults, $15 and $22 for students and seniors.

Based on “Salt of the Earth,” a 1950s film, “Esperanza” tells its story through the growth in the relationship between Ramon and Esperanza, a Latino miner and his wife. Their journey to learn to live together and love each other as equals and as friends is set against a backdrop of political and economic struggles, including a strike at the mine and an attempted eviction. The opera, as does the film, tackles issues of social and economic justice including race, class and gender equality.

Music professor emeritus Karlos Moser serves as artistic director and conductor. Norma Saldivar, UW–Madison theater professor, is assisting in preparing the opera for performance, and will direct the premiere performances. Carlos Morton, widely published Chicano playwright and theater professor has written the libretto. David Bishop, experienced musical theater composer is the opera’s composer.

Two free community conversations also will be held Saturday, Aug. 19, at the First Unitarian Society meeting room, University Bay Drive:

• A discussion of the controversial history of “Salt of the Earth,” 2:30 p.m.,
• A conversation concerning political classical music and “Esperanza,” 7 p.m.

After a 7 p.m. dress rehearsal Aug. 23 at Music Hall, union activists will join Esperanza’s artists to discuss the opera with an audience drawn from a variety of community groups and unions in the Madison area.

Performances, all at 8 p.m., are Aug. 25, 26, 28 and 30. Tickets are now on sale at the Memorial Union Box Office, 262-2201. Tickets are $18 and $25 for adults, $15 and $22 for students and seniors.