On February 18, 2023, Opera Santa Barbara will present the California premiere of “An American Dream” by Jack Perla and Jessica Murphy Moo.

Set in the Pacific Northwest during World War II, the work follows the lives of two women, one is a Japanese American removed from her home, the other a German Jewish immigrant concerned for those she left in Germany.  In the role of Hiroko Kobayashi is Santa Barbara native and mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen, who, in addition to being president and co-founder of the Asian Opera Alliance, performed the role in the 2015 premiere as well as most following productions. Audrey Babcock and Ben Lowe will play Eva and Jim, with Houston-based conductor Eiki Isomura conducting the 15-member ensemble from the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra.

“Bringing ‘An American Dream’ home to Santa Barbara is an incredible honor for me,” said Yoshida Nelsen. in an official press statement. “The aria I sing in the opera was written specifically for me after the librettist interviewed my grandma about her experiences being incarcerated during WWII. Not only is this opera a privilege for me to share musically, but more importantly, it feels like it is my responsibility to tell Japanese American history that is not often taught in schools. The opportunity to share this story with my community is extremely powerful and poignant to me.”

There will also be a panel discussion on February 4, titled “An Introduction to the Opera ‘An American Dream’ & a Community Conversation Centering on Japanese American Incarceration during WWII.” Held at the Santa Barbara Public Library’s Faulkner Gallery, and in partnership with The Japanese American Citizen’s League and The Santa Barbara Toba Sister City Organization, the panel will be hosted by Yoshida Nelson, and feature Dr. Paul Mori from Westmont College, as well as incarceration survivors Hideko Malis and Roke Fukumura.