Dreams Have No Borders
Los sueños no tienen fronteras

Dreams Have No Borders is a new chamber opera by composer Ethan Gans-Morse and librettist Tiziana DellaRovere. A collaboration with real-life migrants, it tells the timely story of a young mother’s harrowing journey to cross the border to find safety with her sister in the USA. Commissioned by Anima Mundi Productions and recorded during the pandemic, it will soon be released as a film under the post-production direction of Emmy-winning director Jan Thompson and will premiere in 2024.
Two-minute trailer:


Back row L to R: Jannie Wei, Wyatt True, Seth Biagini, Ethan Gans-Morse, Estelí Gomez, David M. Sanchez, Cecilia Duarte, Sean McCoy, Shawn Ramagos, Nick Alexander
Front row (kneeling): Kimberlee Uwate, Tiziana DellaRovere, Valerie Rachelle, Isabella Cervantes, Eveling Alexander
2021 Production Photos
All photos by Chava Florendo, courtesy of Anima Mundi Productions.
Click image to view larger
2023 Production Photos
Photography by crew members behind the scenes

Film Director Jan Thompson (center) with the production team and the opera creators. From left to right:
Shawn Ramagos, Hannah Friedman, Nik Wenzel, Ethan Gans-Morse (back), Jan Thompsom, Jay Carey (back), Tiziana DellaRovere, Charlie Norton, Ross Williams, Evan Johnson
Cast Profiles

Estelí Gomez (soprano), plays Marisol, a young Mexican mother fleeing cartel violence to reunite with her older sister, Rosario, in the United States. Praised for her “clear, bright voice” by The New York Times, Estelí has performed on two Grammy Award-winning recordings and is widely recognized as a stylish interpreter of early and contemporary repertoires.

Cecilia Duarte (mezzo soprano), plays Rosario, Marisol’s older sister whose strength and constant love nurtures her sister along her journey. A soloist on the Grammy-Winning album Duruflé: The Complete Choral Works, Cecilia has been praised by The New York Times as “A creamy voiced mezzo-soprano.”

David M. Sanchez (tenor), plays Gabrielito, a young Honduran fleeing the loss of his family’s farmland which has been seized by an alliance of organized crime, corrupt politicians, and dangerous oligarchs who are destroying rainforest land to grow palm oil. David appears on the Grammy-winning Met Opera recording of Porgy and Bess and has been called “A very vigorous, exuberant tenor” by Classics Today.


Considered “the state’s finest chamber ensemble” by Oregon ArtsWatch, the Delgani String Quartet presents exciting performances of both classic and contemporary repertoire in intimate concert settings. The quartet curates their own subscription series while regularly appearing as guest artists throughout the state.
The Delgani String Quartet were sponsored by John & Linda Cummens

Stage director and choreographer Valerie Rachelle has directed theater and opera at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Syracuse Opera, Fresno Grand Opera, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Glendale Center Theater, Performance Riverside, Lucid By Proxy, Utah Festival Opera, and many others. She is currently the Artistic Director of the Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland, OR, now in its 36th season.
Foundation Support


Oregon Cultural Trust
Cultural Development Grant



Additional Support
Additional support comes from the Federal CARES Act as dedicated by the State of Oregon via the Coronavirus Relief Funds for Cultural Support grant.
Anima Mundi Productions gratefully acknowledges the continued contributions of our Board and donors.
Thanks to our meals, transport, and housing sponsors!
Margaret & John Scarborough
Cowslip’s Belle B&B
Comfort Inn & Suites of Ashland
Meals provided by Alexandra Reid, Beth Aspedon, Bob Morse, Valeria Breiten, and Karen Gans
For more information, please contact Ethan Gans-Morse at ethan@animamundiproductions.com or 541-778-1211
Cover artwork by Poli Marichal. Used by permission.