A statement regarding the NYT article about Cesar Chavez (3/18/26):
“We are deeply dismayed by the news of the indefensible and predatory behavior of the late Cesar Chavez. Our hearts, first and foremost, are with Dolores Huerta and the other survivors, some of whom were children when they were sexually assaulted. It must have been horrible to carry that burden, unable to speak the truth because of Cesar’s sway and power.
Our opera centers Dolores: her leadership, her resilience, and the many personal sacrifices she made on behalf of the union and the farm workers. That has not changed. However, the release of this disturbing information about Cesar Chavez brings new context that will take us time to process.
Today our focus is with the survivors, and the many thousands of people whose lives will be affected by these revelations.”
-Nicolás Lell Benavides and Marella Martin Koch
For more information and resources, please see Dolores Huerta’s statement.
NICOLÁS LELL BENAVIDES, COMPOSER
MARELLA MARTIN KOCH, LIBRETTIST
SYNOPSIS
The story of activist Dolores Huerta’s bold commitment to civil and workers rights movements against great odds, the pressure of US politics, and the tragedy of assassination.
What do we do when our heroes are taken from us? We go on.
¡Sí se puede!
AT A GLANCE
Voices
Dolores, mezzo-soprano
Larry, lyric baritone
César, bass-baritone
Bobby, tenor
Tricky Dick, character tenor
Ethel/Helen, soprano
Juan/Journalist, tenor
Farm Worker Chorus (4+)
Instrumentation
1 flute (piccolo)
1 clarinet in B♭ (bass clarinet in B♭)
1 alto saxophone
1 bassoon
1 horn in F
1 trumpet in C
1 trombone
1 bass trombone
1 percussion (3 timpani, 4.3 marimba, vibraphone, snare drum, suspended cymbal, opt. splash cymbal)
1 piano
1 electric guitar (with distortion pedal)
strings (1.1.1.1.1 minimum)
Opera, Drama
123min
CO-COMMISSIONED BY
LEAD COMMISSIONERS
Anonymous
Christina and Kenneth Hecht
Terry McKelvey and Heli Roiha
Heidi Munzinger and John Shott
William and Linda Scheiber
COMPANIES
West Edge Opera
BroadStage
Opera Southwest
San Diego Opera
FOUNDATION SUPPORT
Alice Ditson Fund
Carol Franc Buck Foundation
The Fleishhacker Foundation
Phyllis Wattis Foundation
Sam Mazza Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts Zellerbach Foundation
GRAND RIGHTS
For a perusal score or to negotiate grand rights for performances of Dolores, please contact Elaine Devlin with Elaine Devlin Literary and Owen Summers with Summers Artist Services (elaine@edevlinlit.com and owen@summersartistservices.com).