PPO announces Dariusz Machej as Don Pasquale

Dariusz Machej

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra lives up to its season moniker Switch as bass Dariusz Machej has been just announced as now taking over the titular role at the concert style performance of Gaetano Donizetti's Don Pasquale happening on March 8, 2024, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

The announcement of the new Don Pasquale also included the reveal of the ensemble comprising the chorus because which 19th century Italian opera does not include a chorus? Chorus members are Angelica Rose Martin Benipayo, Camille Maica Magallanes Juanitez, Charina Althea Balmores, Donna Klariz Baluyut, Chelsy Franchette Rosell, Jho-merita A. Chua-so, Nerissa Cabotaje De Juan, Maria Vicella C. Villasin, Gabriel Remoroza Ramos, Keanu Gregan R. Rebadeo. Joshua Angelo Fabros Mondares, Ruzzel Adrian Garcia Clemeno, Nelson Jr. L. Borongan, E C Raquiz Garcia, Paul Mark Raguin Gayanilo.

More info about Dariusz Machej can be found at the press release reprinted below.

BASS DARIUSZ MACHEJ IS DON PASQUALE

Seasoned classical singer Dariusz Machej brings to life Don Pasquale, the famous wealthy old bachelor character in Gaetano Donizetti’s most popular opera buffa, this on March 8, 2024, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati.

To address the dry spell of opera productions in the country, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the PPO present a concert-style performance of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale as part of the orchestra’s 39th concert season.

Don Pasquale tells the comedic story of an elderly bachelor, Don Pasquale, who decides to marry in order to disinherit his nephew, Ernesto. However, things take a humorous turn when his scheming plans are thwarted by a series of comical misunderstandings and mistaken identities. Filled with lively music and witty dialogue, Don Pasquale is a delightful opera known for its entertaining plot and memorable characters.

Under the baton of PPO music director and principal conductor Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, the PPO performs timeless masterpieces by the Italian composer, with Machej reprising the titular role of Don Pasquale in the Philippine premiere.

Machej first made his performing debut back in 1997, where he played the role of Don Magnifico in Rossini's La Cenerentola at the Warsaw Chamber Opera. He was trained under esteemed teachers such as Prof. Wlodzimierz Zalewski, Prof. Ryszard Karczykowski, and Prof. William Mateuzzi.

Over the years, he has performed in over 30 productions, in cooperation with the MET, Theater an der Wien, Israeli Opera Tel Aviv, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, and National Centre for the Performing Arts Pekin. He also participated in various music festivals around Europe such as the Rossini Opera Festival (Pesaro) and Festival di Musica Sacra “Anima Mundi” (Pisa) which both was held in Italy.

The opera features renowned opera singers Dorota Sobieska (Norina) and Byeong-in Park (Dr. Malatesta), with Filipino up and coming opera stars Nomher Nival (Ernesto) and Zadkiel John Yarcia (Notary).

Chorus members include: Angelica Rose Martin Benipayo, Camille Maica Magallanes Juanitez, Charina Althea Balmores, Donna Klariz Baluyut, Chelsy Franchette Rosell, Jho-merita A. Chua-so, Nerissa Cabotaje De Juan, Maria Vicella C. Villasin, Gabriel Remoroza Ramos, Keanu Gregan R. Rebadeo. Joshua Angelo Fabros Mondares, Ruzzel Adrian Garcia Clemeno, Nelson Jr. L. Borongan, E C Raquiz Garcia, Paul Mark Raguin Gayanilo.

The chorus master will be Leo Angelo Malig Lanuza, with repetiteur Reynaldo Gendrano.

Tickets to PPO Concert VII: Don Pasquale are priced at Php3000 (Orchestra Center), Php2000 (Orchestra Side), Php2500 (Loge Center), Php1500 (Loge Side), and Php800 (Balcony 1). Tickets are available at the CCP Box Office at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP BLackbox Theater) and at TicketWorld.

The PPO concert season is made possible with partners SSI Group, Inc., TBWA\SMP, Ascott Bonifacio Global City, Lyf Malate Manila, 98.7 DZFE - The Master's Touch, Philippine Sports Commission and Pick and Click Flower Express. For more information, visit the CCP (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, X, and Instagram for the latest updates.

Donizetti's Don Pasquale, concert style at PPO March concert

Catch a concert staging of Gaetano Donizetti's Don Pasquale at the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's penultimate performance of its 39th Switch season happening this March 8, 2024, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

PPO Music Director/Principal Conductor Grzegorz Nowak welcomes in this concert soprano Dorota Sobieska, bass Matheus França, baritone Byeong-In Park, tenor Nomher Nival and baritone Zadkiel John Yarcia who will sing the roles of this opera buffa composed by Gaetano Donizetti with libretto by Giovanni Ruffini.

More details about PPO's concert staging of Gaetano Donizetti's Don Pasquale can be found at the press release below.

DON PASQUALE TAKES OVER PPO’S CONCERT

Filling the gap in the opera programming in the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra present Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti’s Don Pasquale as part of its 39th concert season on March 8, 7:30 pm, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

Dorota Sobieska

For its seventh concert, the PPO will have a concert-style performance of the Italian opera under the baton of PPO music director and principal conductor Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

With the Italian libretto by Giovanni Ruffini, Don Pasquale is one of the most popular opera buffas, along with Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and Donizetti’s other opera The Elixir of Love. It is known for its bright and colorful vocal, and truthful depiction of characters and genuine emotions.

Matheus França

First premiered at the Théâtre Italien in Paris on January 3, 1843, the three-act opera follows the story of a wealthy old bachelor named Don Pasquale who decides to take a wife and produce an heir to disinherit his nephew Ernesto for refusing to enter an arranged marriage. Dottore Malatesta, a friend of the Don, promises to help Ernesto and his widowed sweetheart Norina.

Things take a humorous turn when his scheming plans are thwarted by a series of comical misunderstandings and mistaken identities. Will Don Pasquale change his mind and realize that marriage is not for him, and allow the couple to happily live ever after?

Find out as opera soloists Dorota Sobieska (as Norina), Matheus França (as Don Pasquale), Byeong In Park (as Dr. Malatesta), Nomher Nival (as Ernesto), and Zadkiel John Yarcia (as Notary) bring to life its entertaining plot and memorable characters.

Byeong-In Park

A talented soprano and stage director, Sobieska has participated in many opera productions and solo performances with an orchestra and piano. One of Ohio’s finest sopranos, her exceptional wide-ranging coloratura technique exemplifies glorious tones and passages with wonderful quality.

Brazilian bass with experienced remarkable growth in the solo landscape, França, is a product of the University of Brasília where he received his musical education. He also possesses a bachelor’s degree in Orchestral and Choral Conducting with excellence.

Alongside Dorota Sobieska and Matheus França, baritone Park will also take center stage. A student under acclaimed tenor Francisco Araiza at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart, Germany, Byeong In Park has been actively performing in opera productions and concerts around Europe and Asia. Currently based in the Philippines, Park continues to involve himself in most opera productions and concerts with several orchestras such as the PPO, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, the ABS-CBN Orchestra, and the Cebu Philharmonic Orchestra.

Nomher Nival

Another soloist with a deep, rich voice and an alumnus of the internationally acclaimed high school choir, Boscorale, baritone Yarcia is currently a student taking up a bachelor’s degree in music, majoring in voice, at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. The young baritone soloist received medals in the Opera and Broadway categories when he competed in the 2018 World Championships of Performing Arts in California, U.S.A.

Completing the cast is Nival, a first-prize winner in the vocal male category of the 2007 National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and the 2015 Jovita Fuentes Vocal Competition Male Category. A well-established tenor who has performed major roles in many CCP productions, he was also the recipient of the Mr. and Mrs. Tommy & Simonetta Steyer Encouragement Award at the prestigious Marcello Giordani Foundation International Vocal Competition 2013 in Vero Beach, Florida.

Zadkiel John Yarcia

Tickets to PPO Concert VII: Don Pasquale are priced at Php3,000 (Orchestra Center), Php2,000 (Orchestra Side), Php2,500 (Loge Center), Php1,500 (Loge Side), and Php800 (Balcony 1).

The PPO concert season is made possible with partners SSI Group, Inc., TBWA\SMP, Ascott Bonifacio Global City, and Lyf Malate Manila.

For more information, visit the CCP (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, X, and Instagram for the latest updates.

CCP Met Opera in HD screens Donizetti's La fille du régiment at Greenbelt 3 cinema

Ring in the New Year with a vocal firework display of high Cs as the CCP Met Opera in HD presents Gaetano Donizetti’s La fille du régiment screening on January 10, 2023, 5:30 PM at Greenbelt 3, Ayala Malls Cinemas in Makati.

Catch a rare encore performance at the Metropolitan Opera by tenor Javier Camarena, singing Tonio's explosive aria Ah! Mes amis … Pour mon âme that features nine high Cs. The subsequent encore brings the total of high Cs to 18. Camarena stars alongside soprano Pretty Yende as the titular "Daughter of the Regiment" Marie.

Rounding up the leads are baritone Maurizio Muraro singing Sergeant Sulplice, mezzosoprano Stephanie Blythe as the Marquise of Berkenfield, with award-winning actress Kathleen Turner making a cameo appearance as the Duchess of Krakenthorp. Enrique Mazzola conducts this production by Laurent Pelly.

The CCP Met Opera in HD, now on its seventh season, is a special program of the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media Division, Production and Exhibition Department, in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. and Ayala Malls Cinemas.

CCP stages Donizetti's opera masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor

Before the onslaught of the sickeningly sweet and saccharine Valentines Day offerings, experience something tragic, classic, and definitely operatic with Lucia di Lammermoor, the opera masterpiece with music by Gaetano Donizetti and libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, to be staged on January 31, 2020, 8:00 PM and February 2, 2020, 3:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Rustan Group of Companies, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and the Embassy of Italy Manila, this production marks the return of international Filipino tenor Arthur Espiritu, portraying the role of Edgardo, to the CCP Main Theater stage since 2012's  Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

Arthur Espiritu and Melody Louledjian

CCP President Arsenio Nick Lizaso recalled how impressed he was with Arthur Espiritu when he saw his Special Concert Series back in September 2018 and that he deserves to be seen at a bigger stage in a full opera production as opposed to a recital.

Joining Espiritu is French-Aremenian soprano Melody Louledjian singing the titular role of Lucia. This opera will both serve as her Philippine debut and also her debut with the role of Lucia. At the press conference, Louledjian admitted that she has been preparing for this role and was just waiting for the opportunity to portray it someday. And now that the opportunity has come and in Manila of all places, she considers these as "presents".

Arthur Espiritu and Melody Louledjian

Despite not having worked together before, both Espiritu and Louledjian felt chemistry right away during their first rehearsal together. Louledjian owed it to the "magical language of music", despite saying not a word, "you feel like you have an answer from your partner" which Espiritu agreed with.

Rounding up the international cast are Korean baritone Byeong-In Park (Enrico), Filipino tenor Ivan Nery (Arturo), Chinese bass Shi Zong (Raimondo), mezzo-soprano Camille Lopez-Molina (Alisa), Nomher Nival (Normanno), and the Viva Voce Lab choral group along with guest singers from various music schools in Manila and Iloilo.

Camille Lopez-Molina, Byeong-In Park, Arthur Espiritu, Melody Louledjian,
Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini, and Prince Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra provides live orchestral accompaniment with Maestro Alessandro Palumbo conducting.

This opera also sees the return of director, set and costume designer Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini and assistant director Prince Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong, the same duo from the 2017 production of L'Elisir d'Amore. Other members of the creative team include Giovanni Pirandello (Lighting Director and Giampaolo Lomi Ormanni (Creative Project Coordinator).

Camille Lopez-Molina, Byeong-In Park, CCP President Arsenio J. Lizaso,
Italian Ambassador Giorgio Gugliemino, Arthur Espiritu, Melody Louledjian,
Rustan Group of Companies Chairman & CEO Zenaida Tantoco,
Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini, and Prince Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong

The performances of Lucia di Lammermoor will benefit the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc. (PPOSI) and the Philippine Italian Association (PIA) Endowment Fund.

Lucia di Lammermoor is presented in cooperation with Hilton Manila, SSI Group, Inc., East West Bank, San Miguel Corporation, LCS Group of Companies. The opera is made possible also through the help of the following Supporters of Arts and Culture: Hermes, Danny Dolor, Ambassador and Mrs. Antonio M. Lagdameo, Rustan Coffee Corporation, and Advanced Foundation Construction Systems Corporation. MAC Cosmetics Philippines is the official make-up sponsor.

L’Elisir d’amore to premiere in Manila

That intoxicating feeling of love is in the air as one of the world’s most beloved operas, Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’amore, finally gets its Manila premiere with a limited two performance run this October 7 & 8, 2017 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

For years, small, abridged concert stagings have been performed in here but a full production of this opera has never been done. Now, thanks to the Rustan Commercial Corporation, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and The Peninsula Manila, in cooperation with the Philippine-Italian Association under the auspices of the Italian Embassy that this is seeing the light of day.

Nemorino (David Astorga) hangs on to Adina's (Elena Monti) every word

This production boasts of an international cast led by Italian soprano Elena Monti (Adina), Costa Rican tenor David Astorga (Nemorino), and Italian bass Francesco Vultaggio (Dulcamara). Korean baritone Byeong-In Park (Belcore) and our very own Rachelle Gerodias-Park (Gianetta) round up the cast. They will be joined by Coro Tomasino under Ronan Ferrer and Philippine Ballet Theatre under Anatoly Panasyukov.

Providing live music is the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of former principal conductor/music director Ruggiero Barbieri.

Dulcamara (Francesco Vultaggio) making outrageous claims

I had the opportunity to take a sneak peek and watch the technical dress rehearsal. It is so tempting to describe what I saw and heard in detail and also to post a lot more photos in here but that would be  telling. I want others to see the opera for themselves. All I can say is that David’s Una furtiva lagrima was so exquisite that there were shouts of bravo from the small number of audience present and those at the wings after he finished the famous aria.

This may sound trivial but for me it’s extremely vital: thank goodness that there will be a real harp in this, or else, Una furtiva… will be ruined.

Belcore (Byeong-In Park) proposes a toast at his wedding

Director Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini leads the artistic and production team along with Direction Consultant Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong. Completing the team are Maurizio Varamo (Set Design), Flavio Monti (Set Project Assistant), Otello Camponeschi (Costume Design), and Giovanni Pirandello (Lighting Design).  

Gianetta (Rachelle Gerodias-Park) spreading gossip

This production of L’Elisir d’amore is in celebration of the 70^th Anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Italy as well at the 65^th Sapphire Anniversary of the Rustan Group of Companies. This project is made possible through the sponsorship of Royal Duty Free Shops, Hermes, Debenhams, Rustan Marketing Corporation, Rustan Supercenters, Inc., Megaworld, and Bergamo.

This opera fundraiser is produced by Zenaida R. Tantoco with Nestor O. Jardin and Dr. Raul M. Sunico as Executive Producers. Proceeds from this will benefit the construction of the San Pablo Apostol Parish Church in Tondo, Manila.

Nemorino (David Astorga) sings Una furtiva lagrima

Gala Night performance of L’Elisir d’amore is on October 7, 2017, 8:00 PM and the matinee performance is on October 8, 2017, 3:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.

An Evening of Bel Canto

Tenor Arthur Espiritu

Featuring:

Arthur Espiritu, tenor

Elainne Vibal, soprano

Myramae Meneses, soprano

Stephanie Aguilar, soprano

Najib Ismail, piano

Programme:

George Frideric Handel Tornami a vagheggiar from Alcina

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Ruhe Sanft from Zaide

Gioachino Rossini

     Ah come mai non senti from Otello

     Sombre forêt from William Tell

Vincenzo Bellini

     Qui la Voce from I Puritani

     Vieni,vieni  fra questa from I Puritani

     Prendi, l’anel ti dono from La Sonnambula

     Si, fuggire a noi non resta... Ah, crudel, d'onor ragioni from I Capuletti e i Montecchi

Gaetano Donizetti

     Quel guardo, il cavaliere from Don Pasquale

     Tornami a dir che m’ami from Don Pasquale

     Chacun le sait from La Fille du Regiment

     Ah! Mes amis from La Fille du Regiment

Bel canto, or beautiful singing in English, is a term that I often encounter whenever I dabble into the world of opera. But being the opera newbie that I still am, my idea about bel canto is still somewhat vague and I still couldn’t say if a certain aria was sung bel canto or not. Thankfully, the MCO Foundation, together with the Ayala Museum, came up with the concert, An Evening of Bel Canto that served as a great way for me to familiarize myself with this singing style.

Performers during this evening were Arthur Espiritu, possibly the most celebrated Filipino tenor today and promising young sopranos Elainne Vibal, Myramae Meneses, and Stephanie Aguilar. Accompanied by pianist Najib Ismael, they performed arias that are rarely heard during concerts in here. The MCO Foundation felt that it was time to steer away from the usual arias, offer something new and also have Arthur Espiritu tackle some challenging material.

I learned that bel canto may be an Italian term but it’s application isn’t limited to operas from Italy or in the Italian language, or by Italian composers. The opening number, Elainne Vibal’s Tornami a vagheggiar from Alcina was by George Frideric Handel who was born in Germany but flourished in Britain during the Baroque era. Ruhe Sanft, performed by Stephanie Aguilar, from the unfinished opera Zaide by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was in German. And the final couple of numbers from Gaetano Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment were in French. I initially thought that bel canto came to be during the Romantic period but based on the two opening numbers, it seemed that bel canto already existed during the Baroque and Classical period.

Honestly, the unfamiliar program, taken out of context, meant that the meaning of the songs were lost in me. But I was able to relish the various tones, textures and colors of the sopranos especially Myramae Meneses who stood out with her solo Quel guardo, il cavaliere from Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti. I felt bad for missing her solo concert a while back and I was pleased to be able to have another chance to hear her again.

The most highly anticipated part of the concert was the last song, Ah! Mes amis from Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment in which Arthur Espiritu was awaited to hit the nine high C’s of this very challenging piece. During that night, I heard that Arthur was struggling with colds (not surprising considering the freaky weather at the time) but despite some barely noticeable strain, he was able to hit those C’s. After this number, he humorously let out a huge sigh of relief while basking in the applause of a very appreciative audience.

Arthur along with Elainne Vibal, Myramae Meneses, and Stephanie Aguilar then sang an encore, Libiamo ne' lieti calici from La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, which he explained is not bel canto. Several members of the audience at the back joined in as the chorus giving this number a sort of surround audio experience.

An Evening of Bel Canto was made possible in partnership with the Ayala Museum, BusinessWorld, HighLife, 98.7 DZFE The Master’s Touch and Lyric Piano and Organ.

Four Hands at the Opera

Pianists Antonella Vitelli and Luciano Bellini

Featuring:

Luciano Bellini, piano

Antonella Vitelli, piano

Programme:

Gaetano Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor

Giuseppe Verdi

     Romance sans paroles

     La Traviata

Gioachino Rossini Il Barbiere di Siviglia

Giacomo Puccini Tosca

Giuseppe Verdi

     Waltz in F major

     Overture from La Forza del Destino

My exposure to the opera for the past year and half finally paid off. My growing knowledge of this form of live entertainment and its vast repertoire was very much responsible for my appreciation of the recent Four Hands at the Opera held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). This concert, featuring the Italian piano duo of Luciano Bellini and Antonella Vitelli gave the spotlight to four Italian opera composers especially Giuseppe Verdi who is celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of his birth this year.

If not for my recent opera exploits, I would be so lost during most of the concert where the piano duo played Bellini’s arrangements of various fantasies taken from works by Gaetano Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi, Gioachino Rossini and Giacomo Puccini. My familiarity with the arias made it a lot easier for me to appreciate not just the music but also the transcriptions and the performances as well.

It was indeed very interesting and enlightening to hear how Bellini transcribed the music which was originally intended for vocalists accompanied by an orchestra. With four hands and one piano, it is possible to have 20 notes played at once. But the arrangement managed to retain the levels and it made the vocal lines float while maintaining the orchestral textures and colors even if there was just one piano. It wasn’t easy to fall into reverie and imagine the actually opera in my head.

Luciano Bellini and Antonella Vitelli at the cocktail reception

Highlights of the performances for me were the Spargi d’amaro pianto from Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti which is a song I usually associate with French singer Mado Robin. Hearing Bellini and Antonelli play the opening notes of the overture from Verdi’s La Traviata made me reminisce at CCP’s production of it. And if I’m not mistaken, Bellini opted to have the music arranged in a chronological manner. I regretted once again missing Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini when I heard Largo al factotum and Una voce poco fa. And it always pleases me whenever I hear Puccini, so I was delighted to hear Vissi d’arte and E Lucevan la stelle from Tosca.

Since this concert was also a tribute to Verdi, Bellini also played two solo piano pieces by Verdi that are rarely performed. The Romance sans paroles and Waltz in F major are two short pieces that served as interludes in between the fantasies and while not that technically demanding, these two pieces could be nice pieces for some pianists to learn. To cap the concert, the duo performed Verdi’s Overture from La Forza del Destino. For their encore, they played a Bellini composition entitled Corteo dai Carpazi al Pireo which took music from the Carpathian mountains in Central/Eastern Europe down to Piraeus, the port city in Greece. I was able to hear Zorba the Greek music which is the Pireo part but I wasn’t able to grasp what kind of music the Carpazi represented.

After the concert, audience members and guests were able to interact with Luciano Bellini and Antonella Vitelli during the cocktail reception at the CCP’s Silangan Hall. As much as I want to watch what I eat, the gelato served there was too tempting and I just had to indulge myself. I was hoping to meet at last the new Italian Ambassador, Massimo Roscigno during that night but he wasn’t present. Instead, it was Alfonso Tagliafferi, the Italian Embassy’s First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission who delivered the opening remarks at the concert.

Alfonso Tagliaferri, RAd and Nino Quartana

The Four Hands at the Opera was presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine-Italian Association, Rustan’s, the Embassy of Italy, in cooperation with the Peninsula Manila, and Ralph’s Wines & Spirits and was staged for the benefit of the PIA Endowment Fund.

Metropolitan in Opera HD: Maria Stuarda

Gaetano Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, the latest Metropolitan Opera production that was screened in high definition at the Cultural Center of the Philippines was my most highly anticipated among the operas offered for this season. This anticipation stemmed from my fascination with history, royal intrigue and fantasy novel series like The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire made this opera about Mary, Queen of Scots and the events that led to her execution by Queen Elizabeth I, a can’t miss.

This particular production directed by David McVicar tried to show the contrast between the two rival queens. Elza van den Heever’s Queen Elizabeth I was a burly, rough and crude monarch. Despite her thick makeup, she never looked nor acted regal. On the other hand, Joyce DiDonato’s Mary was refined, classy and was clearly portrayed as a martyr.  Vocally, Elza van den Heever had a rough start with her opening aria not as precise, crisp and clean as I expected coming from a coloratura. But Joyce DiDonato was phenomenal vocal and acting wise. I heard people at my back already sniffing just before the Deh! Tu di un'umile preghiera in Act II was performed.

In the opera, the two queens weren’t just rivals for the crown, but also for the heart of Robert Dudley, The Earl of Leicester which was played by Matthew Polenzani. He also played the role of Nemorino in L’Elisir D’Amore, and again he didn’t impress me that much. But I think that it’s because DiDonato had an exceptional performance that it became hard for the rest of the cast to match it. Other cast members in this production were Matthew Rose who played George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, Joshua Hopkins who played William Cecil, Lord Burghley and Maria Zifchak, playing Jane Kennedy. Maurizio Benini led the orchestra in this production.

What really interested me tremendously in this opera was realizing how the religious tension affected the composition of this opera. It clearly came from a Catholic’s point of view since Donizetti is an Italian. So, it was no surprise that Queen Elizabeth I came out as the villain even though she was just probably protecting her domain. But this staging by McVicar had her acting like a buffoon and not like a royal. I wish that she should’ve been portrayed similarly to Mary so that one couldn’t determine who among the two women is right.

The final screening of the Metropolitan Opera in HD series for this season will be Thomas Adès’ The Tempest to be shown in August 20, 2013 at 2:00 & 7:00 PM at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). This production will be of note as well since it is a 21^st century composition unlike the previous offerings which are already centuries old.

Italian piano duo performs Italian opera music at the CCP

July 13, 2013, 7:30 PM

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Luciano Bellini, piano

Antonella Vitelli, piano

The music of four Italian opera composers will be brought to life by four hands (courtesy of two Italian pianists) at a concert entitled Four Hands at the Opera happening this July 13, 2013, 7:30 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).

Conductor, pianist and composer Luciano Bellini along with concert pianist and recording artist Antonella Vitelli will showcase the works of Italian opera masters like Gioachino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi, Gaetano Donizetti and Giacomo Puccini. Fantasies culled from Puccini’s Tosca, Verdi’s La Traviata, Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor which were all arranged by Luciano Bellini.

Luciano Bellini is the permanent conductor of Nova Philharmonia as well as guest conductor or soloist for many European, Asian and Latin-American orchestras. His works have been performed in nearly all western countries, in various parts of Asia and in South America, and have also been recorded by several national broadcasting stations and networks. He and Antonella Vitelli co-founded the Italian Pianistic Duo.

In commemoration of Verdi’s bicentennial of his birth, the Overture from La Forza del Destino and two of his rarely heard solo piano pieces, Romance sans paroles and Waltz in F major will be performed in this concert as well. A century after its composition, the waltz was orchestrated by Nino Rota and was used at the Grand Ball scene in the film The Leopard, directed by Luchino Visconti. The Four Hands at the Opera concert aims not only to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi but also to give highlight to Luchino Visconti.

Luciano Bellini and Antonella Vitelli

The Four Hands at the Opera is a co-production of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine-Italian Association, Rustan’s, the Embassy of Italy, in cooperation with the Peninsula Manila, and Ralph’s Wines & Spirits. This event is being staged for the benefit of the PIA Endowment Fund.

Ticket prices:

P1000 Orchestra Center/Left

P800 Orchestra Right

For inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3706

Lulu Casas 895-2109, 895-2404

PIA office 815-1310

TicketWorld 891-9999

Rival Queens clash in Met Opera's Maria Stuarda screening at the CCP

July 9, 2013, 2:00 & 7:00 PM

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

The high definition screenings of Metropolitan Opera productions continue once again at the Cultural Center of the Philippines with Maria Stuarda showing on on July 9, 2013 at 2:00 and 7:00 PM at the CCP’s Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). This tragic opera by Gaetano Donizetti is the fourth Met Opera production to be screened at the CCP following last month’s viewing of the romantic comedy L’Elisir D’Amore which is another opera by Donizetti.

This opera tells about the rivalry between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart (Mary, Queen of Scots) not only for the throne of England but also for the heart of Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. With the massive popularity of the television series Game of Thrones and its source materials, the novels of A Song of Ice and Fire, Maria Stuarda is a timely staging with all the intrigues and scheming involved in the story. American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato leads the cast in the title role of Mary Stuart. Joining DiDonato are Elza van den Heever as Queen Elizabeth I and Matthew Polenzani as Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester who was also Nemorino from L’Elisir D’Amore. Also included in the cast are Joshua Hopkins as William (Guglielmo) Cecil, Lord Burghley,, Matthew Rose as George Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury. This production of Maria Stuarda is directed by David McVicar while Maurizio Benini conducts.

The Metropolitan Opera in HD screenings are delivered, using the high definition format and in Dolby Surround sound. During the opera’s intermission, special features such as behind-the-scenes look and interviews with the cast are shown. The Metropolitan Opera in HD at the CCP concludes with the showing of The Tempest on August 20, 2013 at 2:00 and 7:00 PM.

Ticket price:

P500

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3704, 832-1125 local 1409

TicketWorld 891-9999