The composer and librettist of "State of the Union" will give a presentation at NMU on Tuesday, Sept. 27, in advance of the world premiere of their opera, which will be performed by the Helsinki Chamber Choir on Thursday and Friday. Media are welcome to cover their talk, which is scheduled at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Reynolds Recital Hall. Eugene Birman and Scott Diehl wrote the opera during an artists' residency on Rabbit Island. They will discuss the creative process.