West Edge Opera premiered “Dolores,” an opera based on the life of activist Dolores Huerta at Oakland’s Scottish Rite Center, with the work’s subject in the house.
Farmworker Huerta, along with César Chavez and Larry Itliong, led the national boycott of table grapes in the 1960s to improve conditions for farm workers.
At 95, Huerta is still in the civil rights fray, and as she remarked to patrons at Saturday’s opening night, the fight continues and is expanding today in response to the current administration’s illegal deportation activities. It can only be fought by the people in unity. “Si se puede” she reminded the audience of her call to action that rallied workers around the world.
In West Edge’s premiere, created in collaboration with BroadStage in Santa Monica, Opera Southwest, San Diego Opera and Campo Santo at The Magic Theatre, composer Nicolás Lell Benavides’ pulsing, percussive, melodic music drives the point home. The persistent theme performed by a 16-piece orchestra led by Mary Chun has the tonal heft of a constant march which the excellent chorus brings home again and again.
Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch focus on the summer of 1968, when Robert F. Kennedy, running for the presidency, supported the farmworkers’ cause. RFK is strongly portrayed by Alex Boyer. Amid the celebration, his death is predicted: “They will kill Kennedy!”
Kelly Guerra in the title role sings superbly. Her warm, full-bodied mezzo soprano and her physical energy are ideal for the role. Her interactions with the fasting Chavez (Philip Lopez) and Itliong (Rolfe Dauz) are high points, and a prolonged aria devoted to her children brings a marked tonal shift. Sam Faustine is appropriately villainous as Tricky Dick Nixon.
Director Octavio Cardenas’ staging is clear and concise, particularly forceful with the always-present strikers as they react to images of those who sought to kill the movement. Dancing headshots of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and others add spice, as well as archival photographs. The evocative set design is by Liliana Duque Piñeiro and projections are by Yuki Izumihara.
Nothing about “Dolores” as bio-opera carries a message that is overbearing, even Chavez’ near-death fast. Powerfully sung and staged, “Dolores” balances issues of repression and inhumanity with the joy of solidarity. The message still rings clear: “Yes, we can!”
West Edge Opera’s “Dolores” continues at 2 p.m. Aug. 10 and 8 p.m. Aug. 16 at Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Tickets are $22-$172 at westedgeopera.org.
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