CCP & UP College of Music stage Philippine premiere of Dvořák’s Rusalka

September 11 & 12, 2014, 7:30 PM

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

September 23 & 24, 2014, 6:30 PM

Abelardo Hall Auditorium

College of Music, University of the Philippines

Diliman, Quezon City

The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Music present the Philippine premier of Antonín Dvořák’s lyric fairy tale opera Rusalka on September 11 & 12, 2014, 7:30 PM at the CCP’s Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) and on Septmber 23 & 24, 2014, 6:30 PM at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium at UP Diliman, Quezon City.

A full premiere of the work in the Philippines, UP's Rusalka will be adapted to a Filipino setting, particularly to the time of Isabelo de los Reyes (1864-1938), whose contribution to knowledge of Philippine folklore is pioneering. An ilustrado intellectual of late 19th to early 20th centuries, de los Reyes documented narratives of living Philippine folk beliefs and practices of his time in order to build an archive of Philippine culture so as to understand the uniqueness of Philippine society in relation to universal truth and science.

The love that Rusalka learns in dealing with a human being in this fairy tale opera, though originating far from the Philippines, is one such truth and Isabelo de los Reyes would have easily understood its universal message. As a homage to him as a cosmopolitan Filipino nationalist who is celebrating his 150^th birth centenary this year, UP College of Music juxtaposes, without translating, the original music of this opera that will be sung in English with characters whose names are familiar to Filipinos such as the spirits of the environment.

Included in the cast are brilliant young Filipino sopranos, 2013 Aliw Awardee Fame Flores and Philippine Madrigal Singers member Bianca Camille Lopez, both portraying the main character, the water sprite Rusalka who aspires to love a human being but, in the process, was rejected and who, therefore, learnt the hazards of loving a fleshly creature that a human being is. Tenors Malvin Macasaet and Christian Nagano will both play the Prince while rounding up the cast are students from the University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas.

The show is directed by Alegria Ferrer with chamber orchestra to be conducted by Josefino Toledo and with sets and lighting design by Danilo Silvestre and David Ohm.

Ticket prices:

September 11-12, 2014

P600

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

September 23-24, 2014

P500

For inquiries:

UP College of Music  926-0026, 929-6963

UP Trunkline 981-8500 local 2629

CCP Box Office 832-3704