Opera Southwest: Before Night Falls

Music / Jorge Martín-Buján

Libretto / Jorge Martín-Buján & Dolores M. Koch

A poet in love with the moon.

Jorge Martín-Buján’s Before Night Falls is based on the autobiography of Reinaldo Arenas (which has also been made into a major motion picture starring Javier Bardem). Reinaldo experienced childhood poverty, joy in nature, a stint with the guerillas, international acclaim as a writer, imprisonment as a political dissident (and unapologetically gay man), a daring escape from Cuba, and exile in the U.S. Arenas is determined to stave off death to finish his memoir “Before Night Falls.” The book was published posthumously to great acclaim in 1993.

This opera will be produced with the New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus (NMGMC). They have been an empowering voice in Albuquerque since 1981, with their mission to reduce intolerance through musical performance.

Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes, including one intermission.