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A POOL
of young Filipino opera singers brings to life Puccini’s
classic La Bohème in a coproduction by the Cultural
Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Opera
Company, to be presented at the CCP Main Theater (Tanghalang
Nicanor Abelardo) on October 3 and 4, 8 pm, and October
5, 3 pm.
POC
artistic and managing director Karla Gutierrez says
their audition for roles in the opera yielded a goldmine
of many unknown student talents.
“We were
surprised at the number of people who came to our
auditions,” says Gutierrez. “It only shows that we are
blessed with a pool of young talented artists. This
production will showcase real Filipino talents. We are
giving Filipino classical artists an opportunity to show
off their talent.”
Heading
the cast are tenors Juan Alberto Gaerlan, Dondi Ong and
Seattle Opera-based Gary del Rosario alternating in the
role of Rodolfo; sopranos Jennifer Uy and Maribel Miguel
as Mimi; Ana Feleo and Elaine Lee as Musetta; baritones
Lawrence Jatayna and Nonon Baang as Marcello; and
Joseleo Logdat and John Campos as Colline and Schaunard,
respectively. Leading the Philippine Philharmonic
Orchestra in this production is international conductor
Helen Quach. The opera will be presented in the Italian
original.
For this
version of La Bohème, the production moves the setting
of the opera from 19th-century Paris to present-day
Malate amid the local indie art scene. Noted stage and
TV director Floy Quintos says there are a number of
similarities between the characters as Puccini conceived
them then and in transporting the story to 21st-century
Manila.
“All
these characters are in make-or-break situations,”
Quintos says. “They fall in love, break up, and are
changed by the experience.”
La
Bohème is one of the most popular operas worldwide. The
legendary British conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, who led
one of the definitive recordings of the work, described
it as “one of the most perfect operas....There isn’t a
note too much or a bar too much. Each act is marvelously
constructed, and the length of each is ideal.” The opera
served as the basis of the 1996 Pulitzer- and
Tony-winning musical Rent.
The late
National Artist Rolando Tinio staged the last major
production of La Bohème in 1992. Tinio’s production
moved the story to the then present-day University Belt
area, where Rodolfo and Mimi meet in a boarding house.
Apart
from Quach and Quintos, other members of the production
team include Monino Duque as lighting designer; Jo
Tecson as set designer; Sabella Fashion as costume
designer and provider; and Furball as video designer.
With
this production, the POC starts a regular season of
opera productions in the country. Aside from La Bohème,
it is also presenting a version for children of Mozart’s
The Magic Flute, which has performances at the CCP
Little Theater (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo) until
September 27, and Terence McNally’s Master Class, the
Tony-winning play on Maria Callas, starring Cherie Gil,
at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza from October
9 to 12, 17 to 19 and 23 to 25 at 8 pm.
La
Bohème is supported in part by the Yuchengco Group of
Companies, Sabella, Make Up Forever, Actors Studio,
McDonald’s, Amici, 92.3 XFM and Power Mac Center.
For
tickets, block sales, sponsorship and other information,
call the Philippine Opera Company at 892-8786, or visit
www.philippineoperacompany.com. Tickets are also
available at all TicketWorld outlets at 891-9999. n |
