Musicartes stages La Bohème opera at SM Aura Premier’s Samsung Hall

October 18-19, 2014

Samsung Hall

SM Aura Premier, Taguig

Featuring:

Margarita Giannelli, soprano

Scott Ramsay, tenor

Fernando Araujo, baritone

Myramae Meneses, soprano

Greg de Leon, baritone

Nonon Baang, baritone

Viva Voce

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Jonathan Velasco, conductor

Soprano Margarita Giannelli

After a year’s absence, full length operas came back on the live stage in full force this 2014, and to cap it all off is the one considered as the most romantic of all, Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème happening this October 18-19, 2014, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Hall of the SM Aura Premier in Taguig.

Baritone Fernando Araujo

This opera, presented by MusicArtes, Inc. and A-Team, is led by the phenomenal soprano Margarita Gianelli playing the seamstress Mimì. Giannelli, a Rosa Ponselle awardee, impressed audiences with her performance as Micaela in Carmen back in 2012 and Aida at the Viva Verdi 1813-2013 Bicentennial Gala Concert. Her lover, the poet Rodolfo will be played by American tenor Scott Ramsay. Italo-Brazilian baritone Fernando Araujo plays Marcello while promising young soprano Myramae Meneses play the role of his on and off lover Musetta. Baritones Nonon Baang (Colline) and Greg de Leon (Schaunard) complete the main cast.

Tenor Ivan Nery and baritone Fernando Araujo

Tenor Ivan Nery and soprano Margarita Giannelli

Also appearing in this production are Michael Bulaong, Raymond Yadao and Viva Voce. Maestro Jonathan Velasco conducts the Manila Symphony Orchestra. Directing the opera will be Dr. Anton Juan whose last full length opera was Madame Butterfly, also presented by MusicArtes, Inc. The set design by Otto Fernandez is said to have a modern aesthetic even though the opera will still be set in the early 19^th century. Light design will be by Joseph Matheu while the costumes will be handled by the MusicArtes team.

Soprano Stephanie Aguilar

The opera La Bohème is actually the source material of the popular musical Rent and now is the perfect chance for fans of the musical (and/or the film adaptation) to finally see for themselves where their favorite was actually based from. For me, the main highlights of La Bohème has got to be Sì, mi chiamano Mimì in which Mimì dishes out more poetry than the love struck poet Rodolfo and also her parting aria to her lover, Donde lieta uscì. But for many, their favorite is the most popular aria from the opera which is Musetta’s waltz, Quando men vo. Other highlights in the opera are Rodolfo’s Che gelida manina, Mimì and Rodolfo’s duet O soave fanciulla, and Colline’s Vecchia zimarra which is a sad farewell to his coat. Most of these arias were performed during the press conference held at Chef Jessie's with Margarita Giannelli, Fernando Araujo, Nonon Baang along with understudies Ivan Nery (Rodolfo), Stephanie Aguilar (Musetta).

Baritone Nonon Baang

It will also be very interesting to see how the Samsung Hall will be like since the venue hasn’t been used for a full length opera production before. MusicArtes’ Jay Glorioso told members of the media that one reason why they decided to stage La Bohème there is so that they can reach out to more people, especially those who frequent the SM Aura Premier.

Nonon Baang, Ivan Nery, Stephanie Aguilar, Jonathan Velasco, Margarita Giannelli,
Fernando Araujo, and Jay Glorioso

Ticket prices:

P5000 Orchestra Patron

P4500 Orchestra VIP 1

P4000 Orchestra VIP 2

P3500 Orchestra VIP 3

P3000 Orchestra 1

P2800 Orchestra 2

P2500 Loge Center

P2000 Loge Side

P1500 Balcony Center

P1000 Balcony Side

For inquiries:

Musicartes 895-8098, 519-3603

A-Team (0918) 921-6835

Nonon Baang (0921) 207-6945, (0927) 687-4403

SM Tickets 470-2222

Adonay, the Maestro from Pakil

Featuring:

Nita Abrogar-Quinto, piano
Chona Noble, violin
Bianca Camille Lopez, soprano
Mark Carpio, piano
UP Cherubim and Seraphim
Elena Rivera Mirano, choirmaster
Philippine Madrigal Singers
Ervin Lumauag, tenor
Greg de Leon, baritone
UP Orchestra
Edna Marcil Martinez, conductor

Programme:

Marcelo Adonay

     La Marieta

     La Julita

     Untitled

     Meditación Lúgubre No. 3

     Munting Walz

     Salve Regina

     Libera Me Domine

     Gozos a la Santísima Virgen (a Nuestra Señora de la Consolación)

     Liberame Domine

     Villancico a Belen Pastores

     Kyrie and Gloria from Pequeña Misa Solemne sobre Motivos de la Missa Regia del Canto Gregoriano

A classical music concert featuring the works of just one Filipino composer is a rarity which means that a lot of local works are totally unfamiliar to a lot of people in here. For the past couple of years, I've been into concerts that were dedicated to the music of Lucio San Pedro and Rodolfo Cornejo and this time around, through the efforts of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the University of the Philippines, I had the opportunity to add another Filipino composer to that very short list. And that composer is Marcelo Adonay, dubbed as the Maestro from Pakil.

Since the concert held at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP LIttle Theater) featured music that I haven’t heard before, it was good that they started with short, sweet pieces that were very accessible. Pianist Nita Abrogar-Quinto performed La Marieta and Julita to open the concert and right after that, she was joined by violinist Choba Noble as they both played Untitled, Meditación Lúgubre No. 3 and Munting Walz. As I’ve said, they were short and pleasant to hear pieces that didn’t require too much virtuosity from the musicians. It surprised me that these pieces still hadn’t found their way into the repertoire of musicians here. I wondered that if the music sheet for these pieces were readily available then they would’ve become standards already.

The next to perform was soprano Bianca Camille Lopez who sang Salve Regina while being accompanied by Mark Carpio at the piano. While the solo piano pieces along with the violin and piano duets were sweet and made me want to learn how to play them, this piece left me a bit indifferent. It’s quite subdued and not as dramatic or lyrical as the arias that I am very much used to. And this was probably the reason why I found this particular piece rather dull. The next piece, Gozos a la Santisima Virgen (a Nuestra Señora de la Consolación), was much to my liking and I didn’t find it dull at all. This was sung by the UP Cherubim and Seraphim who were conducted by Elena Mirano, along with three female members of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. An alto and a soprano from the trio harmonized well when they sang their verses while the third singer, a soprano sang alone. The children's choir sang the chorus and I think that this was when the concert really picked up.

The second half of the concert started with the UP Orchestra (the string section specifically), under the baton of Edna Marcil Martinez accompanying tenor Ervin Lumauag as he sang Liberame Domine. Some members of the Philippine Madrigal Singers were at the risers behind the orchestra for this piece but they only sang at the very end which was like a response from the people after the speaker (the tenor in this case) was done with his piece. The UP Cherubim and Seraphim returned onstage, the winds and the brass sections of the orchestra finally got to play and baritone Greg de Leon joined Lumauag for the performance of Villancico a Belen Pastores. This was the piece that appealed to me the most. It could be the chorus of the children’s choir heralded by the ascending notes from the orchestra. I admit that I couldn’t recall much of the music of the verses sung by Lumauag and de Leon, but the fanfare leading into the chorus was something that gave me a bit of a last song syndrome.

For the finale, Kyrie and Gloria from Pequeña Misa Solemne sobre Motivos de la Missa Regia del Canto Gregoriano were performed and all the members of the Philippine Madrigal Singers were present this time around joining Lumauag, de Leon and the UP Orchestra. Interesting to note was that in this piece, there was no viola section in the orchestra. Since this wasn’t the whole mass, it wasn’t as long like Verdi’s Requiem. And before I knew it, the concert was finished and it felt like I just breezed through the music without really absorbing as much as I wanted to.

I do regret that I wasn’t able to attend the lecture that was held before the concert at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater). I would’ve been more prepared to watch the performances and I would've appreciated the pieces a lot more had I’ve known more about Marcelo Adonay and his music. I really commend the CCP and UP as well for putting up a concert like this that spotlight Filipino music and composers. It’s sad to think that our own music remains mainly forgotten while music from abroad gets all the attention. I do hope that after this concert, Adonay’s works will be played more often and that other Filipino composers will have their works performed as well too.

Marcelo Adonay’s works brought to life at the CCP

Marcelo Adonay

November 30, 2011

1:30 PM Talk

Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theater)

3:00 PM Concert

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Philippine Madrigal Singers

Mark Carpio, piano

Greg de Leon, bass

Nita Abrogar-Quinto, piano

Chona Noble, violin

UP Cherubim and Seraphim

Elena Mirano, choirmaster

UP Orchestra

Edna Marcil Martinez, conductor

Programme:

Marcelo Adonay

     La Marieta

     La Julita

     Pequeña Balse

     Meditacion Lugubre

     Salve Regina

     Libera Me Domine

     Gozos a la Santisima Virgen (a Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion)

     Villancico a Belen Pastores

     Kyrie and Gloria from Pequeña Misa Solemne

I’ve often wondered why there is a dearth of performances featuring works by local composers. Because of this, I am not as knowledgeable regarding our local composers and their works as I would like to be. Thankfully, the Cultural Center of the Philippines through its Arts Education thrust will remedy just that by presenting the music of renowned 19^th century Filipino composer Marcelo Adonay happening this November 30, 2011 3:00 PM at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). And there will also be an informal talk about Adonay happening at 1:30 PM at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theater) before the concert.

Bringing to life the music in this concert entitled Adonay, the Maestro from Pakil will be the Philippine Madrigal Singers led by Mark Carpio, bass soloist, Greg de Leon, pianist Nita Abrogar-Quinto, violinist Chona Noble, the UP Cherubim and Seraphim, conducted by Elena R. Mirano, and the UP Orchestra under the baton of Prof. Edna Martinez. Performances will include include La Marieta, La Julita for solo piano; Pequeña Balse, Meditacion Lugubre for violin and piano; Salve Regina, Libera Me Domine, Gozos a la Santisima Virgen (a Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion), Villancico a Belen Pastores, and two movements (Kyrie and Gloria) from the Pequeña Misa Solemne.

I absolutely have no idea how these works sound so I am grateful that I will be having the opportunity to see and hear for myself the compositions of Adonay who lived and worked in what was called as The Golden Age of Filipino Music. Incidentally, a book entitled The Life and Works of Marcelo Adonay by Elena Mirano, Corazon Dioquino, Melissa Mantaring, Edna Martinez, Ma. Patricia Silvestre, Inigo Vito and Patricia Lopez was also published by UP Press back in 2009.

Ticket price:

P500

50% student discount

20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Music Division at 832-1125 loc. 1604

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999