As music performances and cultural events go back to full swing after the extended holiday break, I decided to shake things up a bit with this blog.
Getting back into circulation post-pandemic has made me realize that I have definitely reached middle age territory and maintaining the old pace is not as easy like before.
Hence, a more relaxed and hopefully, more sustainable, blog entries from here on in. But I was told that whenever I talk about music, culture, and other related topics, I usually go on and on. So just brace yourselves.
To kick things off, opera is back with a vengeance this week with a twinbill production of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci, a rerun of La Bohème, and a screening of Hansel and Gretel all lined up.
First off is the double bill production of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavllo's I Pagliacci, a collaboration presentation of the Lyric Opera of the Philippines and Hong Kong Opera Tutti, with a Gala Night on November 10, 2023, 7:00 PM and a Matinee on November 12, 2023, 3:00 PM at the St. Cecilia's Hall, St. Scholastica's College in Manila.
Cavalleria Rusticana stars Vicky Wu, Henry Ngan, Michael Lam, Leung Siu Kwan, and Christy Lee. On the other hand, I Pagliacci stars Zip de Guzman, Isaac Droscha, Glenn Gaerlan, Rica Nepomuceno, Sherwin Sozon, and LyrOpera Chorus. Conducting the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra are Fan Ting for Cavalleria Rusticana and Horst-Hans Bäcker for I Pagliacci. The CavPag double bill is also presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Philippine Heritage Society, Globaltronics, and is under the auspices of the Embassy of Italy.
There is also opera at the cinema with the CCP's Met: Live in HD Season 8's latest offering, Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel this November 7, 2023, 5:30 PM at Greenbelt 3. This Richard Jones and John Macfarlane staging, which is sung in English, stars Alice Coote and Christine Schäfer as the titular siblings, tenor Philip Langridge as the Witch, while Vladimir Jurowski conducts the Met Orchestra.
On the jazz end of things, there's Awé featuring saxophonist Samy Thiébault and bassist Felipe Cabrera happening on November 9, 2023, 7:00 PM at the Alliance Française de Manille. This jazz concert, an installment of Les Jeudis Culturels, is presented by the Embassy of France and the Alliance Française de Manille.
The duo will also conduct a Jazz Masterclass at 2:00 PM before their evening performance. The performance is for free but one needs to register first while the masterclass will incur a fee for admission.
The Metropolitan Theater will also present Palabas and Pamana: Mga Hiyas ng Komedya at Sarsuwela happening on November 9, 2023, 7:00 PM. Featuring excerpts of komedyas and sarsuwelas of yesteryears, this production boasts a cast of theater heavyweights and more that includes Arman Ferrer, Gio Gahol, Carla Guevarra-Laforteza, Ayen Munji-Laurel, Marynor Madamesila, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, Stella Cañete-Mendoza, Gab Pangilinan, Stephanie Quintin-Avila, Katrine Sunga, Rody Vera, Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, Komedya ng Don Galo, Komedya ng San Dionisio, Malaya Dance Theater, and Conchords.
As of writing, the registration link is not yet uploaded and based on experience, seats for the Met's free offerings get snagged up in a matter of minutes. Better keep your eyes peeled on the Met's Facebook page before the top of every hour to secure your seats.
The recitals of the Manila Piano Artist Series continue with pianist Denise See and the group OperaJuan. Denise See's Journey, on November 11, 2023, 6:00 PM, will have the multi-awarded pianist perform pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, and Claude Debussy. OperaJuan's On Demand, on November 12, 2023, 7:00 PM is unique that it gives the audience the power to choose what the singers, namely Hannah Korin Castillo, Harrah Kay Castillo, Renz Nathaniel Cruz, Paul Jacob Enriquez, Angelo Esperanzate, Sam Fernandez, Camille Maica Juanitez, Jeric Paul Lim, Aindrielle Madelo, and Czarina Joy Villa, with pianist, Leroy Rodriguez, get to perform.
Lastly, a couple of Polish musicians, cellist Zdzisław Łapiński and folk musician Maria Pomianowska are currently in town for a series of performances and masterclasses. The masterclass already took place over the weekend but their lecture-concert, Treasures of Polish Music, happens today, November 6, 2023, 6:30 PM at the UP College of Music's Mini Hall. Apart from Łapiński and Pomianowska, the concert will also feature local artists namely pianist Ena Maria Aldecoa and percussionist Teresa "Tusa" Montes. Makes a lot of sense since this year marks 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Poland.
Seat reservations for the concert can be made via writing to Ricardo Juanito "RJ" Balledos rballedos@up.edu.ph, that is if reservations are still open.
Here is a brief rundown of the classical music and more scene happening this week.
November 6, 2023
Treasures of Polish Music
November 7, 2023
Hansel and Gretel
November 9, 2023
Awé
Palabas at Pamana: Mga Hiyas ng Komedya at Sarsuwela
November 10, 2023
Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci
November 11, 2023
Journey
La Bohème
November 12, 2023
Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci
On Demand
La Bohème
Based on how much I have written above, I don't know if this is what I really meant as more relaxed blogging. This only goes to show that the classical music scene is not relaxing at all with more performances on the horizon. I hope that readers get to watch and enjoy a performance or two, or perhaps three this week.
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