New Opera “Echoes of Eureka”

A powerful seven-movement opera about Chinese immigration to California by Artistic Director, Eric Tuan with Chinese Historical Association, San Francisco

At: Central Chinese High School Victory Hall: 829 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA, 94108

A NEW OPERA BRIDGING HISTORY AND HOPE
Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir proudly presents Echoes of Eureka, a powerful seven-movement opera by Artistic Director, Eric Tuan.
This inspiring new work brings to life a pivotal chapter of California’s history, shedding light on the struggles and resilience of Chinese immigrants in the 19th century. Echoes of Eureka emerges as a timely piece, resonating with contemporary conversations on justice, inclusion, and belonging.
Echoes of Eureka follows the true story of Charley Wei Lum, a young Chinese immigrant who arrived in 1880s California and settled in Eureka, a thriving redwood logging town that housed the largest Chinese community in the state outside of San Francisco. During the height of the Gilded Age—a period of deep economic inequality and rising anti-immigrant sentiment—Charley and his community faced devastating violence.
In 1885, an angry mob expelled Eureka’s 300 Chinese residents, forcing them onto a steamship bound for San Francisco.
Charley narrowly escaped lynching thanks to a compassionate clergyman. In the aftermath, the exiled Chinese community took the unprecedented step of filing a federal lawsuit—the first known attempt at seeking reparations in U.S. history. The ways they fought back included several foundational Supreme Court cases, including Wong Kim Ark, which established the basis for birthright citizenship.
Composer Eric Tuan reflects, “I first heard this story in a book called Driven Out by historian Jean Pfaelzer, which documents the hundreds of anti-Chinese deportations and lynchings that took place in California. I composed the seven-movement opera, narrating the story in collaboration with Jean Pfaelzer, fellow historian Alex Service, and Humboldt Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity. We’re very grateful to have received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the opera and presented the world premiere at our Making History Concert on April 12, 2025 followed by performances in Eureka itself in May 2025. The resonances with our national life are striking, and I hope you’ll attend one of our upcoming performances.”

In collaboration with the Chinese Historical Society of America
At: Central Chinese High School Victory Hall: 829 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA, 94108
Free Admission: Donate Here To Support the Festival
https://www.piedmontchoirs.org/spotlight-echoes-of-eureka