A tale of two masterclasses

Suzana Stefanović

Shortly after the Easter weekend, I found myself back at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Sto. Tomas attending a cello masterclass conducted by Suzana Stefanović, principal cellist of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Radio Televisión Española. I have been a supporter of her orchestra for almost three decades now and with the encouragement of her cello co-principal Javier Albares Alberca, I went to observe her masterclass which was the first time I set foot on the conservatory in almost a decade.

Marco Peria and Suzana Stefanović

Watching Suzana impart her knowledge to three young cellists made me remember how much I've missed attending these masterclasses. There had been several given by a handful of visiting artists ever since the pandemic lockdowns eased. Yet I found myself regretting not even bothering to check any of them out all this time.

Fortunately, there is another masterclass in town. But this one is different since it is actually a play presenting a fictionalized account of the 1972 Juilliard masterclasses by the legendary and larger-than-life soprano Maria Callas.

This play is the award winning Master Class by Terrence McNally that is running from May 15-30, 2026 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at the RCBC Plaza in Makati.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Maria Callas

Presented by the Philippine Opera Company as part of its 25th season, Maser Class stars Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Maria Callas. In Master Class, Menchu adds the legendary (and temperamental?) diva Maria Callas to the countless roles that she has portrayed over the years including Eva Peron (Evita), Fantine (Les Miserables), Maria (The Sound of Music), Dina (The Band’s Visit), and Anna (The King and I), Miss Hannigan (Annie) just to name a handful.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Alexandra Bernas

Joining her in Master Class are the trio of Alexandra Bernas (Sophie de Palma), Arman Ferrer (Anthony Candolino), and Angeli Benipayo (Sharon Graham) as the three students having a masterclass with Menchu’s Callas, Louie Angelo Oca as the accompanist Manny Weinstock, and Nelsito Gomez tackling the role of the Stage Hand. Directing the play is Jaime del Mundo, without a doubt one of the biggest opera nerds in the country making him the perfect guy to be at the helm of this production.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo

Attending/observing a music masterclass at a university requires a certain access but for the the play Master Class, being an audience member is just a ticket purchase away.

Alexandra Bernas,  Karla Gutierrez, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo,
Jaime del Mundo, Arman Ferrer, Louie Angelo Oca

Philippine Opera Company’s Master Class by Terrence McNally runs this May15-30, 2026 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at the RCBC Plaza, in Makati.