Juliah Elyz A.

Tan 10
Fermi

Music Reviewer
An opera is a:

1. Art and music form performed by singers through a dramatic work

2. Combination of libretto and musical score

3. In an elaborated theatrical setting

Opera started in Italy at the end of the 16th Century and was part of the
Western Classical Music Form and Tradition.

A text or the script of an opera is called libretto.

Two famous novels of Jose Rizal that were used as an opera in the early
times:

1. Noli Me Tangere

2. El Filibusterismo

The first Filipino opera entitled Sandugong Panaginip was written by

Pedro Paterno and was first shown on August 2, 1902 at Zorilla Theater.

Felipe Padilla De Leon originally composed the music of the operas:

Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

Ryan Cayabyab, however, composed the new music of Noli Me Tangere

and El Filibusterismo that was re-staged at CCP in 1970 and 1975.

La Loba Negra (The Black She Wolf):

1. It has 3 acts.

2. Act III is based on a legend attributed to Father Jose Burgos of the 3

martyr priests Gomburza.
 3. The National Artist Francisco Feliciano composed the music; Soprano
Fides Cuyugan Asensio composed the libretto.

4.

Early Theaters:

1. The early local theaters were: The Zorilla, Principe Alfonso, Variedades,
Quiapo and Tondo Theaters mainly for Italian Operas.

2. It was followed by The Manila Grand Opera House and the Metropolitan
Theater (MET).

The most important cultural structure built under the Marcos

administration is the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It is important
in our country because it opened the way for other operas to presented
at a legitimate venue of international standard.

Italian Operas:

a. La Traviata and Aida Giuseppe Verdi

b. La Boheme Giacomo Puccini

c. Lucia de Lammermoor - Gaetano Donizetti

A ballet is:

1. Performance told by body movements and facial expressions

2. Not in spoken dialogue but in body movements

3.

Famous Filipino Ballets based on Folktales and Fables:

1. Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya

2. Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin

3. Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon

4. Ang Palasyo ng mga Duwende

5. Labindalawang Masasayang Prinsesa

 6. Anting Anting

7. Rama Hari

Three Famous Operas of Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky:

1. Nutcracker Suite

2. Swan Lake

3. Sleeping Beauty

Ramayana
Indian epic behind the Music Production

One of the greatest Indian epics

It tells about Indian life around 1000BC and how Dharma was
practiced.

Rama Hari or King Rama is the Philippines adaption of the epic

Ramayana.

Kuh Ledesma got her fame after starring the Rama Hari and the
release of the hit song Magbalik Ka Na Mahal.

Ryan Cayabyab made the music in the Rama Hari ballet.

Musical Play and Broadway

1. Musical Play

Themes are more contemporary

Acting is less and dramatic

Musical melodies are more manageable by the average singer

Choreography and dancing provide visual breaks

2. Broadway Musicals

Term given to musical plays shown in Broadway Theater, NYC

Themes are generally light and easy to understand

 Singing is usually amplified

Lea Salonga won the prestigious Tony Award (USA) and Laurence
Olivier Award (London) for her portrayal of Kim in the musical Miss
Saigon.

Miss Saigon is the modern adaptation of Giacomo Puccinis Madame

Butterfly.

Les Miserables won Best Musical and Best Original Score in the
1987 Tony Awards.

Phantom of the Opera

The famous novel was written by Gaston Leroux.

As a broadway musical, it was nominated 11 awards and garnered 7

awards in the 1988 Tony Awards.

Ang Anak ng Dakilang Pawis is a musical depicting the life of the

Filipino Revolutionary Hero, Andres Bonifacio.

Musical and Broadway Songs:

1. Empty Chairs Les Miserables

2. The Flower Drum Song Mei-Li

3. Nabasag na Banga Dalagang Bukid

4. Climb Every Mountain Sound Of Music

5. If I Loved You Carousel

6. Sun Moon Miss Saigon

7. I Could Have Dance All Night My Fair Lady

8. If Ever I Would Leave You Camelot

9. Some Enchanted Evening South Pacific

Catalina Dela Cruz

 Popularly known as Katy Dela Cruz, hailed as Queen of Filipino Jazz
and Queen of Vaudeville.

Some of her famous songs are: Balut and St. Louis Blues.

Conchita Dela Rama

Rising star of Vaudeville

Composers, librettists, lead female and male singer-

actors/actresses:

a. Daragang Mayon

Composer: NA Ramon P. Santos

Librettists:Merlinda Bobis

Lead Female: Stephanie Quentin

Male Singer:Jonaf Del Fierro

b. Andres Bonifacio, Ang Dakilang Anak-Pawis

Composer:Jerry Dadap

Librettists:Dionisio R. Salazar

Lead Female: Bettina Dadap

Male Singer:Elmo Makil

c. Magsimula Ka, The Musical

Composer:Gines Tan

Librettists:Nestor Torre and Gines Tan

Lead Female: Isay Alvarez

Male Singer:Dio Marco/ Joey Lorenzo

d. Atang, The Musical

Composer:Von de Guzman

Librettists:Flory Quintos

Lead Female: Ayen Munji,

 Male Singer:Teroy De Guzman, Frances Makil

e. Katy! The Musical

Composer:Ryan Cayabyab

Librettists:Jose Javier Reyes

Lead Female: Mitch Valdez

Male Singer:Bayani Casimiro, Eddie Mesa, Diomedes Maturan