19 th CENTURY – Filipino opera emerged in the Philippines when foreign performers, including instrumental virtuosi, as well as opera singers and Spanish zarzuela performers came to the country to perform for enthusiastic audiences.
Is an art and music form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text (called a libretto) and a musical score. It is accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble. The dialogue is entirely sung and not spoken . OPERA
Local Theatres and Early Philippine Operas
Zorrilla Theater, 1817-1893 Principe Alfonso Theater, 1862-1876 Variedades Theater, 1847 Quiapo Theater Tondo Theater, 1841 Manila Grand Opera House, mid-19 th Metropolitan Theater, 1931 LOCAL THEATERS
Zorrilla theatre (1817-1893)
Principe alfonso theatre (1862-1876)
Variedades theatre (1847)
QUIAPO THEATERS (Times theatre)
Manila grand opera house
Metropolitan theater
Composed by LADISLAO BONUS, “Father of Philippine Opera) Said to be the FIRST FILIPINO OPERA by PEDRO PATERNO, a poet, novelist, musician, and government official. ( La Alianza Soñada) This was first presented at the Zorilla Theater on August 2, 1902 It was later translated by the Englishman M.W. Loving with the title The Dreamed Alliance. “SANDUGONG PANAGINIP”
“SANDUGONG PANAGINIP”
First Filipino Opera Conductor BONIFACIO ABDON
First Filipino Impresario who promoted local talents to participate in foreign productions. DR. RAMON JAVIER
Wrote the “ Lakangbini ” that was first staged at the Metropolitan Theater in December 19, 1933 PATRICIO MARIANO
NELIA MANALO a s Violetta in La Traviata MERCEDES MATIAS-SANTIAGO as Lucia in Lucia di Lamemoor JOVITA FUENTES as Mimi in La Boheme Popular singers
Established by then First Lady Imelda Romualdez -Marcos in 1969 paved the way for other Filipino operas to be staged at a legitimate venue of international standard . CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES
Composed Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo Presented at the CCP Main Theater in 1970 and 1975 Felipe p adilla de leon
Famous Filipino Operas
The Black She-Wolf A Three-act Filipino Opera The music was composed by Francisco Feliciano with libretto by soprano Fides Cuyugan Asensio “LA LOBA NEGRA”
The three-act opera composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon, with libretto by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino . I t premiered in 1957 at the FEU Auditorium. “NOLI ME TANGERE”
It was written four years after the Noli Me Tangere It was in three acts and written in Tagalog (with Libretto by Anthony Morli ) It tells of the continuing struggle of the Filipinos to achieve freedom and emancipation from Spanish colonial rule. “el filibusterismo ”
ballet in the Philippines
The Filipino ballet presents folktales based on local fables and epics from neighbouring regions.
A ballet adaptation of Severino Reyes’ folktales Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang . It was meant to instill and rekindle the interest of the Filipino youth in the beauty, richness, and heritage of Philippine literature. “ lola basyang ”
translated as King Rama, is the Philippine adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana set to music, dance, and drama. “RAMA HARI”
Musical plays in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the musical play rely mostly on adaptations from novels, literary works, or biographical sketches of famous artists .
Lighter form than the opera Themes are usually contemporary Acting is less intense and dramatic Musical play
“ Showboat ” was the first broadway musical which featured the popular mode of transport in the American frontier. BROADWAY MUSICALS
Siamese royalty in The King and I , English aristocracy in My Fair Lady , Austrian history in The Sound of Music Medieval English tragedy in Camelot I nterracial gang rivalry and romance in West Side Story Other Themes:
It is a five-act work commissioned by Alfonso Puyat in 1979, depicting the life of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio . Music was by Jerry Dadap . Andres Bonifacio : Ang Dakilang Anak-Pawis
It is a musical based on the life of the first superstar of the Philippines, ATANG DELA RAMA . Atang - Dulang May Musikal
written by Floy Quintos and directed by Alexander Cortes, was shown at UP Diliman in 2008 as part of the Zarzuela Festival organized by the UP College of Arts and Letters. Atang - Dulang May Musikal
is about the life of bodabil star Katy de la Cruz. The music and musical arrangements were done by Nonong Buencamino The play commissioned Ryan Cayabyab for the music, Jose Javier Reyes for the lyrics, and starred Mitch Valdes in the title role Katy!
It was presented in celebration of the 200 th birth anniversary of the author Francisco Balagtas-Baltazar . FLORANTE AT LAURA
It is based on a poem by MERLINDA C. BOBIS. It was produced by the CCP Women’s Desk and the Coordinating Center for Dance to celebrate Women’s Month. Daragang magayon
It is the story of young dreamers whose ambitions begin to fade in life’s realities. They are part of the graduating class filled with hope but end up compromising their idealism for their own survival. MAGSIMULA KA
by Gines Tan , staged at the CCP Main Theater from April 7 to 24, 1988 . one of the longest running musicals at the CCP. MAGSIMULA KA