Milan-based soprano Christiana “Tinette” Serafin de Ocampo returns for a series of homecoming concerts

Christiana Serafin de Ocampo
Photo ©Dominic Dimagmaliw

After watching Arthur Espiritu's return performance at MiraNila a month ago, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Christiana "Tinette" Serafin de Ocampo. I learned that she is an acclaimed spinto soprano based in Milan who is back in town for a series of homecoming concerts.

At the time when I met her, she has already wrapped up Ritorna Vincitor! Arias Unleashed and was gearing up for Curtains Up: Opera Meets Broadway later that month. I missed both but fortunately for me, she has a handful of performances already on the pipeline.

Due to the success of Ritorna Vincitor!, Christiana teams up once again with pianist Dr. Peter Porticos for a repeat performance in Encore!, an evening of opera arias by Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, and Jules Massenet. This happens on June 13, 2026, 6:00 PM at Manila Pianos Showroom located at the 4F Ronac Lifestyle Center, Paseo de Magallanes, Makati City. Contact 0917-4158876 for tickets.

Christiana then joins the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra in Celli Sentimental on June 14, 2026, 7:00 PM at the Centro de Turismo in Intramuros, Manila. Conducted by Dr. Renato Lucas, she will be the featured soprano in the performance of Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos that is rarely performed in its entirety. Also performing in this concert is cello wunderkind Damodar Das Castillo. Tickets are available at Ticket2Me.com.

Next up is Opera Up Close, a concert lecture with pianist Mariel Ilusorio happening on July 11, 2026, 6:00 PM at the Sunshine Place in Jupiter St., Makati. E-mail sandy.hontiveros@gmail.com for tickets.

The series wraps up with Canciones con Guitarra on August 8, 2026, 6;00 PM at Varlez Pianos, LGI Bldg., Ortigas Ave. For tickets, contact Richard Sy Facunda at 0917-415-8876 or rsyfacunda@gmail.com.

Christiana Serafin de Ocampo
Photo ©Dominic Dimagmaliw

Christiana “Tinette” Serafin de Ocampo is a Filipino soprano whose international artistic career spans Manila, the United States, and Europe.

Born in Manila, she initially pursued pre-medical studies at Sarah Lawrence College and later at Columbia University before turning toward music.

She was awarded a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music, where she completed her studies in vocal performance under the tutelage of Edward Zambara.

During her academic years in New York, she actively engaged in vocal performance, singing undertaking solo work. She also appeared as a soloist in church and concert settings, gaining early experience in sacred and recital repertoire.

In New York, she worked with the renowned Filipino soprano Evelyn Mandac, further deepening her artistic grounding.

Following her studies, she began professional engagements in the United States, including work connected with Washington Opera (now Washington National Opera). She also performed with Washington Concert Opera, as well as in concerts associated with the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and related orchestral projects.

During this period, she attracted interest from major opera institutions, including the San Francisco Opera. However, due to visa constraints related to transitioning from student practical training to a working visa, she made the decision—following professional guidance—to continue her artistic development in Europe.

This led her to relocate to Vienna, where she could further immerse herself in the Germanic vocal tradition and Lied repertoire. Vienna marked a decisive artistic turning point. There, she worked with the legendary soprano Hilde Zadek, whose guidance confirmed her development as a dramatic soprano. Her repertoire focus expanded toward major dramatic roles including Tosca and Aida.

In parallel, her collaboration with pianist Norman Shetler opened a deep engagement in German Lied tradition, including Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, Mahler, and Wagner. In particular, Wagner became a bridge toward a more dramatic repertoire.

She further expanded her French mélodie repertoire with works by Hahn, Fauré, Duparc, Chausson, Poulenc, Ravel, and Debussy, building on earlier studies with Thomas Grubb in New York.

Her development continued with Margarita Lilova and later with Wessela Zlateva.

Her Vienna years were also marked by extensive exploration of somatic and movement practices, including the Feldenkrais Method, Alexander Technique, Yoga, and Rolfing. Initially encouraged by soprano Evelyn Mandac, she studied multiple yoga traditions, including Iyengar and Bikram, developing a holistic understanding of singing as an integration of body, breath, and mental focus.

She also worked with soprano Nelly Miricioiu, who further affirmed her direction as a dramatic soprano. Her performance work during this period included Tosca under conductor Uwe Theimer of the Wiener Volksoper and Musikhochschule, alongside concert and recital engagements across Europe. While her vocal identity did not conform to rigid classification, this period consolidated her artistic voice as a spinto drammatico soprano with a broad interpretive range.

She collaborated with conductor Marc Tardue, who invited her to perform Samuel Barber’s masterpiece Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Jenaer Philharmonie.

Over time, she increasingly focused on concert work and pedagogy. During the global pandemic, she relocated to Paris, where she re-established her artistic base and resumed both performing and teaching.

While in Paris, worked with Craig Sirianni, whom she credits for strengthening her engagement with spinto and dramatic repertoire. She then met her current teacher Howard Haskin, whose guidance reaffirmed her classification as a spinto drammatico soprano and supported a renewed technical approach based on the teachings of Marie-Henriette Dejean, which integrate physiological and spiritual aspects of singing.

After 4 1/2 years in Paris, she spent a period in Milan dedicated to intensive study and technical consolidation.

She now returns to Manila to present a series of concerts and masterclasses, establishing her Asian base while continuing an international career across Europe and expanding her artistic work throughout the Asia-Pacific region. This homecoming marks not a return in closure, but a continuation of an international artistic trajectory, bringing her accumulated experience into dialogue with audiences and emerging singers in the Philippines and Asia Pacific region.

For further information, check out the social media accounts at the following:

Facebook: Christiana Serafin de Ocampo

YouTube: @christianaserafindeocampo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serafinvocalacademy/

CCP's The Met: LIVE in HD presents Richard Strauss' Salome

The Cultural Center of the Philippines presents Richard Strauss' Salome, the latest installment of CCP's The Met: LIVE in HD screening on August 12, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 at the Ayala Center in Makati.

This new production by Claus Guth, set during the Victorian era, stars soprano Elza van den Heever in the titular role, baritone Peter Mattei as Jochanaan, tenor Gerhard Siegel as King Herod, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung as Herodias, and tenor Piotr Buszewski as Narraboth. Met Orchestra's Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

An advance warning though as this production of Salome contains adult themes and disturbing imagery.

Here is the press release for CCP's The Met: LIVE in HD screening of Strauss' Salome

Salome’s dangerous obsession in CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD

The biblical tale of the wicked Salome takes center stage in the seventh installment of CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines)’s The Met: LIVE in HD, screening on August 12, 2025, 5:30 pm, at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 in Makati City.

Composed by Richard Strauss, Salome intertwines the life of the young girl with her stepfather, King Herod, and the prophet Jochanaan. Enthralled by Jochanaan, Salome makes advances. He then rejects her and advises her to seek Christ instead. Blinded by anger, the girl seduces King Herod to get the prophet for herself.

Due to its scandalous tale of eroticism and indecency, Strauss’ Salome was banned in London until 1908. Its provocative number, Dance of the Seven Veils, paints the once innocent girl in a new light. The spoiled princess displays her sexual awakening as a terrifying force, enough to commit murder in the name of her desires. Highlighting Salome’s dangerous obsession with Jochanaan, the opera narrates her inevitable descent into madness and corruption.

Originally a French play by Oscar Wilde, Salome was translated into German by Strauss following Hedwig Lachmann’s libretto. Its unsettling dissonances and turbulent rhythms deny the audiences a gentle introduction, reeling them in with psychological precision. Meanwhile, the use of string, wind, and brass instruments perfectly balances the tale’s eerie atmosphere with the powerful vocals of each singer.

After two decades, the Metropolitan Opera brings Strauss’ Salome back with mezzo-soprano Elza van den Heever brilliantly portraying the unhinged heroine. Tenor Gerhard Siegel joins her as the corrupt King Herod, while celebrated baritone Peter Mattei is Jochanaan. The regality and dark themes of Salome shine with the orchestral performance under the baton of the Met Opera’s music conductor, Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

Witness Salome’s tragedy on screen on August 12, 5:30 p.m., at Glorietta 4’s Cinema 1 in Makati City as the seventh installment of the CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD. The CCP, in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and Ayala Malls Cinemas, showcases the beauty of operas in excellent Dolby Surround and High-Definition video.

While inspiring a deeper appreciation of all art forms, the country’s leading art institution keeps true to its commitment to providing world-class artistic experiences to Filipinos through The Met: LIVE in HD program. Aside from the performance itself, the opera program gives a glimpse into the nitty-gritty of mounting operas with exclusive interviews and footage.

Regular tickets for CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD - Season 10 screenings are priced at Php350. Students and young professionals can avail of the discounted price of Php100 upon presentation of a valid ID. You may purchase directly from the ticket booth at the venue or book tickets online via www.sureseats.com.

Get updates on CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD through the official Facebook pages of CCP and CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media. For upcoming CCP shows and events, follow the CCP’s official social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok. You may also check on the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) for more information.

CCP's The Met: LIVE in HD screens Mozart's Le nozze de Figaro this July

Dive into a comic opera where the female lead doesn't die as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro hits the big screens on July 1, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4 Cinema 1 located at the Ayala Center in Makati.

The screening of Le nozze di Figaro is the sixth installment of the 10th season of CCP's Met: LIVE in HD presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and Ayala Malls Cinemas.

This production by Richard Eyre stars Olga Kulchynska and Michael Sumuel as the lovers Susanna and Figaro respectively. They are joined by Fedrica Lombardi as Countess Almaviva, Sun-Ly Pierce as Cherubino, Elizabeth Bishop as Marcellina, Joshua Hopkins as Count Almaviva, and Maurizio Muraro as Dr. Bartolo.

And making her Metropolitan Opera conducting debut is Joanna Mallwitz, chief conductor and artistic director of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin.

Reprinted below is the press release.

CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD spotlights the melodic genius of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” this July

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s brilliant arias in “Le Nozze di Figaro” as the sixth installment of CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD - Season 10 this July 1, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 in Makati City.

Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) centers on servants Figaro and Susanna, who are about to marry. The Count and Countess, each with personal reasons, hope to stop the wedding. While trouble lurks in the shadows, Figaro and Susanna juggle shocking truths with their immense love for each other.

Chasing greater fame and financial security, Mozart based Le Nozze di Figaro on Paisiello’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, which Beaumarchais’s Le Barbier de Séville had influenced. He worked with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte to finish the opera. The then-emperor had refused permission to stage Beaumarchais’s iteration because of its German translation. As a precaution, Da Ponte omitted political content from Mozart’s work. After it succeeded, the two continued their partnership with Don Giovanni (1787) and Così fan tutte (1790).

The impeccable comedy welcomes the audience with whisper-like melodies that quickly build into a short-breathed little theme. Despite narrating comedic scenes, the piece is quite self-contained. Its overture beautifully sustains a slow middle section with a melancholy oboe solo.

Through scampering violins, flutes, and clarinets, Mozart narrated the Le Nozze di Figaro’s twists and turns in a succession of hectically upbeat figurations. Generally, the opera won over its audience’s affection. Hungarian poet Ferenc Kazinczy and “Father of the Symphony” Joseph Haydn even praised its lively ensemble scenes.

In 2017, BBC News surveyed opera singers for the best opera written. Le Nozze di Figaro easily came out on top of the 20 featured operas.

For this Met Opera’s version, lyric soprano Olga Kulchynska plays the forgiving Susanna while bass-baritone Michael Sumuel is her lover Figaro. Italian soprano Federica Lombardi also breathes life into the Countess. Joanna Mallwitz, chief conductor and artistic director of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, makes her Metropolitan Opera conducting debut in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro.

Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro is laced with themes of love, class, and gender. Catch this classic on the sixth installment of CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD Season 10 on July 1, at 5:30 p.m., at Glorietta 4’s Cinema 1 in Makati City.

The CCP, in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and Ayala Malls Cinemas, showcases Mozart’s masterful melodies in excellent Dolby Surround and high-definition video.

While introducing Filipino audiences to world-class artistic experiences through CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD, CCP keeps true to its commitment to developing the nation’s appreciation for all art forms. Screening The Met’s intricate stagings in Philippine cinemas teases a deep admiration for the beauty of operas.

Regular tickets for CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD - Season 10 are priced at Php350. Students and young professionals can avail of the special price of Php100 per ticket upon presentation of a valid ID. To purchase tickets, visit the ticket booth at the venue or book online via www.sureseats.com.

Keep track of the latest screenings of CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD through the official Facebook account of the CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media or the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph). For current and future event updates, follow the CCP’s official social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

CCP's The Met: LIVE in HD screens Aida starring Angel Blue

Grammy Award winning soprano star Angel Blue's much awaited Metropolitan Opera debut in Aida finally hits the local screens as the Cultural Center of the Philippines' The Met: LIVE in HD presents this opera by Giuseppe Verdi this May 6, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4 cinemas in Glorietta, Makati.

Starring alongside Angel Blue are tenor Piotr Beczała as her lover Radamès and mezzo soprano Judit Kutasi as Aida’s rival, Princess Amneris.

Multiple Grammy Award winner Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts this new production directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer.

Reprinted below is the press release.

CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD screens the visual spectacle of Verdi’s Aida this May

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) The Met: LIVE in HD - Season 10 explores the grandeur of Egypt in its fourth installment with Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida this May 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 in Makati City.

Thrust into an empire war between Ethiopia and Egypt, Verdi’s Aida narrates a romance while unearthing faded scenery with historic monuments and animated projections under the direction of Tony-winner Michael Mayer.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was obsessed with ancient Egypt. I loved the visuals and the symbolism. I loved the pomp, the pyramids, the mummies, the hieroglyphics,” said director Mayer, who also created The Met stagings of Verdi’s Rigoletto and La Traviata. “I even managed to get a sarcophagus and a Cleopatra dancer into my Rigoletto. So right away, I was excited about getting to work on a new Aida.”

Verdi’s Aida is a visual spectacle of forbidden love. Aida, enslaved by Egyptian Princess Amneris, captures the heart of Commander Radamès. But unbeknownst to Radamès, Aida is the daughter of his enemy, King Amonasro of Ethiopia. At its core, this majestic opera expounds on the titular character’s dilemma of choosing between love and loyalty to her country.

In Mayer’s reinterpretation, Grammy-winner Angel Blue breathes life into Aida while tenor Piotr Beczała is the valiant Radamès. Judit Kutasi embodies Aida’s rival, Princess Amneris, following her debut in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino in 2024 at The Met. Music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, 2025 Grammy-nominee for Best Opera Recording, takes the podium for Mayer’s staging of the gilded tombs of Egypt.

Aida is only one of Verdi’s 26 operas that impacted Italy’s cultural and political landscape. From an antiquity he discovered, French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette envisioned a love story set in ancient Egypt. Verdi wrote Aida following this proposal. Riding Europe’s fascination for all things foreign and exotic, multi-talented revolutionary Antonio Ghislanzoni developed it into a libretto in 1870.

Catch Verdi’s iconic drama on the fourth installment of CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD - Season 10 this May 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 in Makati City. Presented by the CCP in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and Ayala Malls Cinemas, Mayer’s state-of-the-art take on Aida will be showcased in high-definition video and excellent Dolby Surround Sound.

Keeping true to its commitment to developing the nation’s appreciation for all art forms, CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD shares the beauty of mounting operas through screening The Met’s stagings in Philippine cinemas. This project also invites Filipino audiences to welcome world-class artistic experiences.

Regular tickets of CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD are priced at Php350.00. To avail of the special discounted price of Php100.00, students and young professionals only need to present a valid ID. Visit the venue’s ticket booth to purchase tickets or book them online via www.sureseats.com.

For updates on the latest screenings of CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD, visit the official Facebook page of the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media or the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph). You may also follow the CCP’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more information on current and future events.

Lise Davidsen stars at CCP's The Met Live in HD Tosca screening

For those who missed Lyric Opera's recent staging and also for those who want to get yet another fix, the Cultural Center of the Philippines got you covered as the CCP's The Met LIVE in HD Season 10 presents Giacomo Puccini's Tosca screening this April 8, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4 Cinema 1 at the Ayala Center in Makati.

The main draw for this David McVicar production has got to be Norwegian superstar soprano Lise Davidsen singing the title role of Floria Tosca. Joining her are Freddie De Tommaso as her lover Cavaradossi and baritone Quinn Kelsey as the antagonist Scarpia. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts in this production.

Reprinted below is the press release.

Passion and drama blend in Puccini’s Tosca in CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD at Glorietta 4 Cinema

Witness how the lives of a volatile diva, a sadistic police chief, and an idealistic artist unfold in the cinematic screening of Giacomo Puccini's classic opera Tosca, the next installation of the CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD Season 10 this April 8, at 5:30 p.m. at Glorietta 4 Cinema 1 in Makati City.

One of the much-awaited operas to date due to its timeless and powerful story, musical masterpieces, and dramatic staging, the three-act Italian opera features an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. The opera contains depictions of torture, murder, and suicide, as well as some of Puccini's best-known lyrical arias.

For this special screening, Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen stars as the volatile diva Floria Tosca for her first time at the Metropolitan Theater of New York. It also features British Italian tenor Freddie De Tommaso in his eagerly anticipated company debut as Tosca’s revolutionary lover, Cavaradossi, and powerhouse baritone Quinn Kelsey as the sadistic chief of police Scarpia.

David McVicar directed this thrilling production. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the electrifying score, which features some of Puccini’s most memorable melodies.

Premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on January 14, 1900, Tosca is one of the most popular works by Puccini. He created the work based on Victorien Sardou’s 1887 French dramatic play, La Tosca, a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800 during the time when French general and statesman Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Italy threatened the Kingdom of Naples’s control of Rome.

Through the years, critics often wrote about Tosca’s rather grungy subject matter, the directness and intensity of its score, and the crowd-pleasing dramatic opportunities it provided for its lead roles. But these same aspects have made Tosca one of a handful of iconic works that seem to represent opera in the public imagination. Tosca’s popularity is further secured by a superb and exhilarating dramatic sweep, a driving score of abundant melody and theatrical shrewdness, and a career-defining title role.

The CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. and Ayala Malls Cinemas. It is a series of screenings of the latest opera performances by the Metropolitan Opera of New York, delivered in High-Definition video and Dolby Surround Sound.

This project likewise corresponds with the CCP’s commitment to fostering a national appreciation for all art forms, inviting Filipino audiences to embrace new artistic horizons.

Regular tickets for the CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD are priced at Php350. Students and young professionals may avail themselves of the special discounted price of Php100.00 upon presenting a valid ID. Visit the venue’s ticket booth or book them online via www.sureseats.com to purchase tickets.

For more information on CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD and other CCP shows, visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph, and follow the official CCP and CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media Facebook pages. Get the latest updates on the CCP official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Jeanine Tesori's Grounded premieres at CCP The Met: LIVE in HD

Jeanine Tesori's Grounded is set to land on Philippine shores making its premiere at CCP The Met: LIVE in HD screening on March 4, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4 Cinema 1 in Makati.

Grounded is a groundbreaking, kaleidoscopic opera that wrestles with often-overlooked issues created by 21st-century warmaking: the ethical conflicts created by the use of modern military technology and the psychological and emotional toll supposedly safe remote technology takes on our servicepersons.

Emily D'Angelo

This production by Michael Mayer stars Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo as Jess, the hot-shot fighter pilot whose life at the military is derailed due to an unexpected pregnancy and American tenor Ben Bliss costars as the Wyoming rancher Eric. At the podium conducting the orchestra is Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

Grounded is composed by Jeanine Tesori with libretto by George Brant. Tesori is the Tony Award winning composer behind Kimberly Akimbo and Fun Home, the musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel's 2006 graphic memoir.

Reprinted below is the press release for CCP The Met: Live in HD screening of Grounded.

The Realities of Modern Warfare Through a Woman’s Eyes

CCP The Met: LIVE in HD premieres Jeanine Tesori’s Grounded this March at Glorietta 4

Two-time Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori’s new opera Grounded is set to premiere in the Philippines through CCP The Met: LIVE in HD on March 4, 5:30 pm, exclusively at Glorietta 4 Cinema 1 in Makati City.

Grounded narrates the story of a woman who is a successful F-16 combat pilot in the United States Air Force but has to leave the military for a moment because of her unexpected pregnancy. When she comes back, she is reassigned to being a Reaper drone operator in the Nevada desert. As she adjusts to this new way of doing battle, she struggles under the pressure to be the perfect soldier, the perfect wife, and the perfect mother all at the same time.

A thrilling, fast-paced adaptation of an award-winning play by playwright George Brant, who also wrote the libretto, the opera explores the psychological toll of modern warfare, as well as the roles of women in the armed forces and in society at large.

“The main part of the opera deals with what that psychological toll is on this woman. I’ve seen so many war stories, movies and books, and they’ve been told from male perspective. To me, when you see that woman up there in her fight suit, there is a jolt of newness and differentness,” shared George Brant, the playwright and librettist of the opera, in the behind-the-scenes interview.

Tesori, the most prolific female composer in American theater history and one of the first two women ever commissioned to compose an opera for the Met, described Grounded as “a moral awakening. I think Grounded is about unseen trauma, the psyche behind that.”

Commissioned through the Metropolitan Opera-Lincoln Center Theater New Works Program, Grounded had its world premiere at the Washington National Opera in 2023 and opened the Met’s 2024-2025 season, with Tesori making history as the first woman composer in the company’s 141-year legacy to open the season. This milestone highlights the growing recognition of female composers in a male-dominated industry.

Tesori is the force behind the Tony Award–winning Best Musicals Kimberly Akimbo and Fun Home. Grounded is her fourth opera, following most recently Blue, which garnered the Music Critics Association Award for Best New Opera.

Mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, one of most compelling young opera stars in this generation, headlines in the tour-de-force role of the hot-shot woman fighter pilot.

“It’s just the most amazing material, with the most amazing team of people. It’s a gorgeous story. It is a meaningful human story about a person who, you know, seems so real. So, to have the opportunity to play this character and to sing music written by Jeanine Tesori, it’s impossible to turn down,” said D’Angelo in an interview with The Met.

The Met music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, with assistant conductor Steven Osgood, takes the podium and leads the powerful cast. Michael Mayer’s high-tech staging, using a vast array of LED screens, presents a variety of perspectives on the action, including the drone’s predatory view from high above.

The special screening of Grounded is part of the tenth season of CCP The Met: LIVE in HD, a remarkable program that brings the captivating world of opera to Filipino audiences, offering them the unique opportunity to experience world-class performances from The Metropolitan Opera. The program is in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, The Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. (FOSFI), and the Ayala Malls Cinemas.

Regular tickets for the CCP The Met: LIVE in HD are priced at Php350. Students and young professionals may avail of the special discounted price of Php100 upon presenting a valid ID. For tickets, visit Glorietta 4 Cinema ticket booth or book via www.sureseats.com.

For more information on CCP The Met: LIVE in HD, visit the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).

CCP The Met LIVE in HD's 10th season opens with Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann

The Cultural Center of the Philippines in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. (FOSFI), and the Ayala Malls Cinemas bring back CCP The Met: LIVE in HD now screening at Glorietta 4 in Makati.

Now on its 10th season, CCP The Met: LIVE in HD offers eight recent Metropolitan Opera productions featuring today's biggest opera stars and filmed in high definition and Dolby Atmos surround sound.

Leading the lineup is Jacques Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann screening on February 4, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4, Makati.

This production by Bartlett Sher stars French tenor Benjamin Bernheim, American soprano Erin Morley as Olympia, South African soprano Pretty Yende as Antonia, and French mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine as Giulietta. Rounding up the cast are American bass-baritone Christian Van Horn as the Four Villains and Russian mezzo-soprano Vasilisa Berzhanskaya in her company debut as Nicklausse/Muse while Marco Armiliato conducts the Metropolitan Orchestra.

Here is the rest of the 10th season lineup of CCP The Met: LIVE in HD.

Grounded

Jeanine Tesori

March 4, 2025, 5:30 PM

Tosca

Giacomo Puccini

April 8, 2025, 5:30 PM

Aida

Giuseppe Verdi

May 6, 2025, 5:30 PM

Fidelio

Ludwig van Beethoven

June 3, 2025, 5:30 PM

Le nozze di Figaro

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

July 1, 2025, 5:30 PM

Salome

Richard Strauss

August 12, 2025, 5:30 PM

Il barbiere di Siviglia

Gioachino Rossini

September 9, 2025, 5:30 PM

Here is the press release for CCP The Met: LIVE in HD.

CCP The Met: LIVE in HD returns with Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” this February

CCP The Met: LIVE in HD continues to fulfill its promise of bringing the magic of opera closer to the Filipino audience in its 10th season beginning this February. In partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, The Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. (FOSFI), and the Ayala Malls Cinemas, eight (8) new operas will be screened at Glorietta 4 in Makati City with the surround sound technology of Dolby Atmos.

Curtains of the CCP The Met: LIVE in HD reopens with Jacques Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” this February 4, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) are the ramblings of a man drunk in wine and love. Tormented poet Hoffmann (played by Benjamin Bernheim) adores Stella, an opera singer. In three dramatic acts with fantasy elements, he narrates anecdotes of his past lovers: a mechanical doll named Olympia, the young Antonia, and the courtesan Giulietta residing in Venice.

Because it drew inspiration from three stories written by its namesake Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann (E. T. A. Hoffmann), Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann faced numerous setbacks. It was originally intended for Paris’s Théâtre de la Gaîté-Lyrique in 1877 but Offenbach missed the deadline. After his death in 1880, French composer Ernest Guiraud was commissioned to finish the opera.

Les Contes d’Hoffmann has no “official” version. Music historians questioned Offenbach’s intentions with its spoken dialogues, resulting in multiple iterations in the order of its acts. However, they strived to honor Offenbach’s plan of mapping the spiritual journey of love from the early stages of infatuation to the occasional indulgence of passing fancies.

Directed by Tony award-winner Bartlett Sher, Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann shares its whimsical tales with Filipino audiences at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 on February 4, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

Among the lineup of CCP The Met: LIVE in HD this season are Jeanine Tesori’s Grounded, Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Fidelio, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Salome of Richard Strauss, and Gioachino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

Tesori’s “Grounded” focuses on former fighter pilot Jess who finds her passion psychologically and ethically challenged. Under the guidance of critically acclaimed conductors Steven Osgood and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, this fast-paced tale of modern warfare graces the Philippine cinema on March 4, at 5:30 p.m.

“Tosca” by Puccini is a political thriller set in 1800s Rome. The lives of diva Tosca, her lover Cavaradossi, and corrupt police chief Scarpia intertwine in this tale of love and deception. Witness Tosca confront her darkened fate on April 8, at 5:30 p.m.

During the reign of pharaohs in Egypt, Verdi’s “Aida” is a princess in love. After her beloved is chosen to lead a war with Ethiopia, she questions her loyalty to her country. This tragic story fosters a rollercoaster of emotions on May 6, at 5:30 p.m.

“Fidelio” is Beethoven’s sole opera. Laced with soaring melodies, heroine Leonore infiltrates a dungeon as a man to save her husband from an unjust execution. Under the baton of Grammy nominee Susanna Malkki, soprano Lise Davidsen fights for freedom in this drama slated on June 3, at 5:30 p.m.

Servants Figaro and Susanna navigate a whirlwind of mistaken identities to cement their happy ending in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro (The Wedding of Figaro)”. Set to premiere on July 1 at 5:30 p.m., this comedy expresses themes of gender equality, infidelity, and love.

Strauss’ “Salome” faces a tragedy as Herod, a superstitious ruler who happens to be her stepfather, becomes increasingly obsessed with her. Conducted by Grammy winner Yannick Nézet-Séguin, this gruesome biblical tale premieres on August 12, at 5:30 p.m.

Slated on September 9, Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” is a story of deception and bribery. Count Almaviva falls in love with Rosina, who Bartolo locked in his home. Count Almaviva creates multiple disguises to access her in this comedy featuring powerful vocal performances from Isabel Leonard and Lawrence Brownlee.

As the CCP The Met: LIVE in HD returns, the CCP keeps true to its commitment to developing the nation’s appreciation for all art forms. The CCP, while imparting splendid operas from all parts of the world, hopes to encourage Filipino audiences to welcome new artistic experiences.

Now screening exclusively at Glorietta 4 - Cinema 1 in Makati City, regular tickets for the CCP The Met: LIVE in HD are priced at Php350.00. Students and young professionals may avail of the special discounted price of Php100.00 upon presenting a valid ID. To purchase tickets, you may visit the venue’s ticket booth or book them online via www.sureseats.com.

For more information on CCP The Met: LIVE in HD, visit the official Facebook page of the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media or the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph). You may also follow the CCP’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Maestro Fabio Armiliato to conduct opera masterclasses for Progetto Puccini 2024

Progetto Puccini 2024 brings internationally acclaimed maestros led by famed tenor Fabio Armiliato to the country for a series of opera masterclasses this October 1-4, 2024 and a culminating concert on October 5, 2024 all happening at the Metropolitan Theater.

Maestro Fabio Armiliato

Joining Maestro Armiliato in conducting the masterclasses are musical director and vocal teacher Mariano Panico, soprano Lorena Zaccaria and répétiteur John Florencio offering their expertise in vocal technique, Italian diction, interpretation, expression, stage presence, and more.

Mariano Panico

The Filipino singers participating in the masterclasses include soloists Angeli Benipayo, Nerissa de Juan, Stefanie Quintin-Avila, Jomel Garcia, Ervin Lumauag, and Karl Arnold Saret.

Lorena Zaccaria

The masterclasses will also feature a La Bohème Workshop featuring Myramae Meneses, Anna Migallos, Iona Ventocilla-Borja, Carlo Falcis, Roby Malubay, Nomher Nival, Fritz Rivera, Raymond Yadao, as well as pianist Oliver Salonga.

John Florencio

The upcoming masterclasses will serve as preparation for the second phase of Progetto Puccini happening next year, June 15-30, 2025, that will be highlighted by performances of La Bohème featuring the masterclass participants at the Teatro Orfeo.

Anna Migallos

The collaboration between the Philippine and Italy in this two-phased project is expected to strengthen cultural ties and celebrate the connection between the two countries through the opera music of Giacomo Puccini.

Roby Malubay

Observers for the masterclasses on October 1-4, 2024 at the Metropolitan Theater are welcome. One just need to register until September 30, 2024 through this link: https://forms.gle/PjWorK8AdySd7DQb8.

Myramae Meneses

The culminating concert, billed as Amore in Aire: A Filipino-Italian Encounter will be held on October 5, 2024, 6:00 PM at the Metropolitan Theater. Admission to the concert is for free and tickets can be availed through this link: https://bit.ly/ccp-amore.

Progetto Puccini is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Metropolitan Theater, the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), the Arturo Toscanini Foundation, and the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation with the support of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), San Miguel Corporation, Ferrari Philippines, Smeg Philippines, Auro Chocolate, Admiral Hotel - Official Residence Sponsor, and the Viva Voce Voice Lab.

Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking wraps up CCP The Met: Live in HD Season 9

SCREENING ADVISORY:

Due to the inclement weather brought by Tropical Storm Enteng, today's screening of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking has been postponed to September 10, 2024, 5:30 PM. 

Please note that you may still use your tickets at Cinema 1 of Greenbelt 3 on the rescheduled date.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope you remain safe and well during this time.

Thank you for your understanding.

Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking, a contemporary opera masterpiece wraps up the 9th Season of the Cultural Center of the Philippines' CCP The Met: LIVE in HD this September 3, 2024, 5:30 PM at Greenbelt 3 Cinemas in Makati.

Adapted from the 1993 memoir of Sister Helen Prejean, Dead Man Walking, composed by Jake Heggie, with libretto by Tony and Emmy Award–winner Terrence McNally has since become the most widely performed new opera of the last 20 years. It has made its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera stage in a new production by Ivo van Hove. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the Met Orchestra.

Joyce DiDonato

Singing the role of Sister Helen Prejean is the multi-Grammy Award winning, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. Joining DiDonato in the cast are bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as Joseph De Rocher, soprano Latonia Moore as Sister Rose, and mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, who originated the role of Helen Prejean in the opera’s 2000 premiere, as De Rocher’s mother.

Tickets are priced at P350 each with a special discounted price of P100 for students and young professionals upon presenting their respective IDs.

Reprinted below is the press release for CCP The Met: LIVE in HD screening of Jake Heneggie's Dead Man Walking.

BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN HUMANITY AND JUSTICE IN CCP THE MET: LIVE IN HD’S DEAD MAN WALKING

Ryan McKinny and Joyce DiDonato

Dead Man Walking, a contemporary opera by Jake Heggie, begins and ends with a murder.

Based on the nonfiction book of the same title on the recollection of events that happened in 1982 by Sister Helen Prejean, Heggie’s Dead Man Walking is a harrowing yet beautiful tale of forgiveness, regret, and unlikely friendships in the middle of pursuing justice.

Sister Helen Prejean meets her new pen pal, convicted murderer Joseph De Rocher who is sitting on death row for the murder of a young couple. After agreeing to be Joseph’s spiritual adviser, Sister Prejean meets his family along with the victims’ loved ones. Coming from an environment where kindness is taught and nurtured, she starts to question the nature of humans. Joseph faces the inevitable, and his newfound friend Sister Prejean is left to confront the inner workings of America’s justice system.

Susan Graham (kneeling) in Dead Man Walking

“Who was I to sit in judgment?” wrote Sister Prejean in her nonfiction book, as she navigates the thorny journey toward the truth. She grapples with waves of grief, doubt, and hope while confronting violence and its bitter aftertaste. Despite initially having second thoughts, Sister Prejean assures that Joseph’s tragedy is seen through the lens of love and forgiveness.

Beyond the confines of the theater, Sister Prejean established Survive, an organization assisting the bereaved families of the criminal justice system’s victims.

Ryan McKinny and Joyce DiDonato

Since its world premiere in October 2000, Dead Man Walking has been one of the pioneers of policy debates concerning mass incarceration and racial slavery.

Hailed as the most impactful piece of American music theater since Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story, the opera is decorated with Heggie’s poignant storytelling and the brilliance of Terrence McNally’s libretto. Under the stage direction of Tony award-winner Ivo van Hove, Dead Man Walking exhibits a minimalist but abstract vision, exposing the harsh realities caused by injustice.

Joyce DiDonato and Ryan McKinny

Stepping into the shoes of Sister Helen Prejean is the multi-Grammy Award winner Joyce DiDonato, alongside award-winning soprano Latonia Moore as Sister Rose. Versatile bass-baritone Ryan McKinny is the repentant Joseph De Rocher, and Opera’s Sweetheart Susan Graham plays his hopeful mother.

The opera’s nuanced portrayal of the blurry lines between faith, humanity, and hope will surely prompt audiences to recognize themselves in each character’s dilemma.

Joyce DiDonato (center) in Dead Man Walking

Closing the curtains of the CCP The Met: LIVE in HD Season 9, Heggie’s Dead Man Walking will grace the Philippine cinema on September 3, at 5:30 p.m., exclusively at Greenbelt 3, Cinema 1.

Students and young professionals may avail of the special discounted price of PHP100 upon presenting a valid ID while regular tickets are priced at PHP350. To buy your tickets, you may visit the venue’s ticket booth or book them online via www.sureseats.com.

 

Follow the CCP’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. For more information about CCP The Met: LIVE in HD, please visit the official Facebook page of the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media or the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).

RAd's Page Turners | Dead Man Walking

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In 1982, Sister Helen Prejean became the spiritual advisor to Patrick Sonnier, the convicted killer of two teenagers who was sentenced to die in the electric chair of Louisiana’s Angola State Prison. In the months before Sonnier’s death, the Roman Catholic nun came to know a man who was as terrified as he had once been terrifying. She also came to know the families of the victims and the men whose job it was to execute—men who often harbored doubts about the rightness of what they were doing.

Out of that dreadful intimacy comes a profoundly moving spiritual journey through our system of capital punishment. Here Sister Helen confronts both the plight of the condemned and the rage of the bereaved, the fears of a society shattered by violence and the Christian imperative of love.

On its original publication in 1993, Dead Man Walking emerged as an unprecedented look at the human consequences of the death penalty. Now, some two decades later, this story—which has inspired a film, a stage play, an opera and a musical album—is more gut-wrenching than ever, stirring deep and life-changing reflection in all who encounter it.