On Sept. 16, 2020, Minute Hand Opera will present the premiere of “Minutes to Midnight: A Nuclear Opera.”

This new work, by composer John Sturt and librettist Sophia Chapadjiev, comes as part of Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2020, and explores the United States’ nuclear capabilities in the light of the 75^th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.

“John and I are cock-a-hoop that Tête à Tête has given us a platform to champion discussion and action through opera,” Chapadjiev stated in a press release. “Our hope is to draw people’s attention to the increasing dangers of giving vast power to the powerful few. But make no mistake, we’re also here to entertain and hopefully delight.”

“Minutes to Midnight” will be held at the Cockpit Theatre in London on the 16th while an interactive, streamed performance will take place on the 18th, featuring a panel discussion on becoming more active in support of nuclear disarmament.

Panelists include Kate Hudson, General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and Becky Alexis-Martin, award-winning scholar and author of the book “Disarming Doomsday.”