Composer Jimmy López discusses Dreamers, an oratorio for orchestra, chorus, and soprano, created in collaboration with playwright Nilo Cruz. The piece explores the US immigrant experience, in particular that of Dreamers—undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children—and what it means for cities to provide sanctuary from prosecution and deportation. Performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra, London, under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen, featuring soprano Ana Maria Martinez, Dreamer will be presented by Cal Performances at Zellerbach Hall on March 17.

An award-winning composer, López has been described as “one of the most admired among the younger generation of South American composers” (Chicago Tribune) and “one of the most interesting young composers anywhere today” (Chicago Sun-Times). He earned his doctorate from the UC Berkeley Department of Music in 2012 and is the current composer-in-residence at the Houston Symphony. He and Cruz previously collaborated on an opera adaptation of Ann Patchett’s novel Bel Canto for Lyric Opera of Chicago, which was broadcast on PBS’s Great Performances.

For more information, visit artsdesign.berkeley.edu.