Tanghalang Pilipino tackles Truth and Consequence for their 26th Season

Antonio Ferrer, Cris Villonco and Noel Rayos

BREAKING NEWS: Due to the unfortunate natural phenomenon that we are experiencing now, we wish to let our valued ticketholders of WALANG SUGAT, subscribers, patrons and guests know that we are cancelling our 3pm show and the 8pm Gala Performance tomorrow, August 9, 2012, and the rest of the performances this weekend, August 10-12. We will, instead, open next week, August 16, Thursday.

Your tickets for the August 9-12 performances will be valid either on new special dates to replace the original schedules, or your preferred other performances subject to availability of seats.

Please contact 0917-750-0107, 0915-607-2275, or 0935-378-4781 or Tanghalang Pilipino office 8321125, local 1620 or 1621.

We also wish to let you know that we are coordinating with the officials of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) for an agreement that will allow TP to accept donations in cash or kind for the flood victims before and after the performances. We also plan to do a special fund-raising performance of WALANG SUGAT for the same cause. As Filipino artists, we, in Tanghalang Pilipino, commit, not only to the promotion of our craft, but also to community service and assistance.

Maraming salamat po.

Nanding Josef,

Artistic Director, Tanghalang Pilipino

Carlos Siguion-Reyna

Director, WALANG SUGAT

After celebrating their silver anniversary season last year, Tanghalang Pilipino returns and centers on Truth and Consequence for the company’s 26^th Season. The resident drama company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, TP presents four productions Walang Sugat, Walang Kukurap, Stageshow, and Ibalong that tackle human behavior and relationships that lead towards social transformation.

A press conference presenting the 26^th season lineup was recently held at the National Commission on Culture and the Arts. This event was attended by Tanghalang Pilipino’s Artistic Director Nanding Josef, director Carlos Siguion-Reyna, some of the cast members of Walang Sugat, and also some members of the TP Actors Company.

During the press conference, Nanding Josef stressed once again how local theater companies are in need of not just only the support of the government, but also the support of private corporations, the media and the general public as well. It’s sad to see that local talent and productions, exceptional and awesome as they are, tend to get overlooked in favor of foreign artists and shows. And in a surprising turn, people who once scoffed at local productions usually have a change of heart once they get to experience how brilliant local productions are.

Antonio Ferrer

Here is Tanghalang Pilipino's 26th Theater Season 2012-2013 lineup:

Walang Sugat

August 9-26, 2012

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

Walang Kukurap

September 14-30, 2012

Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater)

Stageshow

October 10-21, 2012

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

Ibalong

February 8-March 3, 2013

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

Walang Sugat opens TP’s 26^th Season

August 9, 2012, 8:00 PM Cancelled

August 10, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM Cancelled

August 11, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM Cancelled

August 12, 2012, 3:00 PM Cancelled

August 16, 2012, 8:00 PM
August 17, 2012, 8:00 PM

August 18, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM

August 19, 2012, 3:00 PM

August 24, 2012, 8:00 PM

August 25, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM

August 26, 2012, 3:00 PM

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Walang Sugat is Tanghalang Pilipino’s opening salvo for their 26^th Season starting this August 9 up to August 26, 2012 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). Written by Severino Reyes, this sarswela focuses on the love story between Julia and Tenyong amidst the revolutionary period when the control of the Philippines is transferred from the Spaniards to the Americans.

This production is the first foray of acclaimed film director Carlos Siguion-Reyna to the realm of the stage. He will be joined by theater veterans like his niece Cris Villonco playing the role of Julia. Antonio Ferrer and Noel Rayos alternates as Tenyong, Julia’s love interest. Other cast members are Bodjie Pascua and Lou Veloso alternating the role of Tadeo, Red Nuestro and Jonathan Tadioan alternating as Lukas. Jenny Villegas and Jean Judith Javier alternate as Monica. Rounding up the main cast are Gino Ramirez as Miguel, Jelson Bay as Padre Teban, and Joseph Perez as Pedring along with the ensemble consisting of the TP Actors Company. Significant in this production is the return of Noemi Manikan-Gomez after many years away from the theater stage.

Cris Villonco

Cris Villonco, whom I’ve seen numerous times during the past year (and I am not complaining), will be playing Julia an ingénue role pushed to the limits as the character gets more mischievous compared to her previous roles. Noel Rayos and Antonio Ferrer are new faces  to me so it was a treat to see a sample performance from them during the press conference. Jenny Villegas and Red Nuestro also did a humorous duet that proved how splendid they are vocally.

When asked how he plans to interpret the material, director Carlos Siguion-Reyna told the media that he aims to show the freedom that our forefathers had and also the cost that they had to pay in order to gain that freedom. He further stressed that he wishes to explore divisions not just in the social and economic classes but also in the interests (especially the self serving ones) in people’s lives. He also plans to showcase the manipulations that people do to each other and the deceptions that people have to go through in order to gain power.

Hearing him say all of this made me so intrigued since I never imagined a sarswela to touch upon all of these. I am usually drawn towards the music in theatrical productions but with this kind of insight coming from the director himself, it made me anticipate Walang Sugat more. I admit that I am not really aware of what a sarswela is, but I am glad that Tanghalang Pilipino’s 26^th season premiere offering will give me the opportunity to learn more about Filipino art forms aside from just having me entertained.

Cris Villonco and Noel Rayos

Walang Sugat features libretto is by Severino Reyes, with additional line by Nick Tiongson. The music is by Fulgencio Tolentino, Constancio de Guzman, Mike Velarde, with additional music by the show’s music director Chino Toledo. Nonoy Froilan choreographs while Tuxqs Rutaquio designs the set. James Reyes of Slims Fashion and Arts School designs the lead’s costumes and Katsch Catoy handles the light design.

Ticket prices:

P1000*

P800

*August 9, 2012 Opening Night

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

Cherry Bong Edralin 832-1125 local 1620/21, fax 832-3661

(0917) 750-0107, (0918) 959-3949, 218-3791

tanghalangpilipinomarketing@yahoo.com.ph

TicketWorld 891-9999

MCOF Young Artists' Series 2012 I: Christian Tan

Violinist Christian Tan

Featuring:

Christian Tan, violin

Mary Anne Espina, piano

Programme:

Eugène Ysaÿe Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 27 No. 2 Jacques Thibaud

Camille Saint-Saëns Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75

Nicanor Abelardo Cavatina

Pablo de Sarasate Zapateado Op. 23 No. 2

Maurice Ravel Tzigane

I’ve been aware of who Christian Tan is for some years now. I’ve seen him perform as a member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra and I also saw him compete at the most recent NAMCYA wherein he was awarded an Honorable Mention. It’s amazing that after all this time, we only got acquainted just right after the MCO Foundation had its press launch of its Young Artists' Series 2012 which was just fairly recent. Now that Christian and I formally know each other, it gave me more incentive to catch his concert that was the first of three performances comprising the Young Artists Series' 2012 held at the Filipinas Heritage Library.

Christian prepared a programme consisting of pieces that were both familiar and unfamiliar to me. The unfamiliar pieces, Eugène Ysaÿe’s Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 27 No. 2 "Jacques Thibaud" and Camille Saint-Saëns' Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75 made up the first half of the concert. Christian was joined by pianist Mary Anne Espina during the Saint-Saëns piece. I haven’t heard these pieces before so I used this moment to increase my knowledge of the vast violin repertoire especially in chamber music. The second half consisted of pieces that are already very familiar with me: Nicanor Abelardo’s Cavatina, Pablo de Sarasate’s Zapateado Op. 23 No. 2 and Maurice Ravel’s Tzigane. It was during the performance of these pieces when I noticed that Christian’s demeanor changes and he shows some intensity and  emotion while playing compared to his shy and timid personality off stage.

Among the audience members at the intimate venue were a handful of members from the string section of the MSO who were in full support of Christian. Once he finished all of his pieces, his fellow musicians cheered him on prompting him to do an encore performance of Sa Kabukiran by Manuel Velez. Christian is still a very young musician who plans to gain scholarships so that he can further his studies abroad. Seeing his performance during this evening, I wouldn’t be surprised if I find out that he would have to leave temporarily the MSO to do just that.

The Young Artists' Series 2012 continues with soprano Elainne Vibal who will perform this July 19, 2012, 6:30 PM at the Filipinas Heritage Library. I last saw Elainne as part of the ensemble of the recent production of Madame Butterfly. She was also among the masterclass participants who performed at the Songs and Symphony Concert as well. Tickets are at P500 with student and senior discounts. For inquiries, contact the MCOF at 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053, the Filipinas Heritage Library  at 892-1801, and TicketWorld  at 891-9999.

MSO II: The MSO with Regina Buenaventura

Arturo Molina conducts the Manila Symphony Orchestra

Featuring:

Regina Buenaventura, violin

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Arturo Molina, conductor

Programme:

Paul Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Samuel Barber Violin Concerto, Op. 14

Zoltán Kodály Háry János Suite

After many months, the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s 2012 Concert season resumed for me when I watched the second night of their Magic, Fantasy and Ambition themed concert at the Philam Life Auditorium. During this evening, the orchestra, under the baton of Arturo Molina performed pieces by Paul Dukas, Samuel Barber and Zoltán Kodály. The concert also featured violinist Regina Buenaventura who is back in the country while she is taking a summer break from her studies in the US.

The Magic of the concert was represented by Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. This piece was made immensely popular by the Disney animated film Fantasia and it was really a challenge for me not to conjure images of the film in my head while the performance was going on. But my focus paid off as I was able to gain a new insight regarding the piece since I got to focus on the musicians, especially the bassoonists. I wouldn’t hold it against any member of the audience if they envisioned Mickey Mouse, the brooms and the sorcerer while the orchestra was playing since the music did tell the story that was brought to life by the film.

Next to be performed was Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto which represented the theme Ambition. Violinist Regina Buenaventura told me weeks earlier that she was actually practicing Sibelius but had to go back to practicing Barber since this piece suited the theme of the evening more. It had been two years since I last saw Regina perform and I wasn’t completely satisfied by that performance owing to the poor acoustics of the performance venue. This time around, with the superior acoustics of the Philam Life Auditorium, I was finally able to hear and appreciate the nice, clear and expressive tone of Regina’s violin. Throughout the first two movements of the piece, she deftly played with finesse and an effortlessly sublime vibrato. And during the notoriously difficult third movement (which I think was where the ambition theme came from), she showed no signs of strain which made me believe that she’s one of the most relaxed violinists out there. Regina doesn’t dazzle audiences with fireworks or overt showmanship, but she mesmerizes instead with her elegance and restraint.

The last piece of the concert, the Háry János Suite by Zoltán Kodály represented the Fantasy theme. Like many members of the audience that night, it was my first time to see this piece performed live. I’ve listened to a recording prior to the performance and I took note of the cimbalom, an instrument used in this piece which is popular in Hungary but almost unheard of in this part of the world. For practical reasons, a keyboard simulating the sound of the cimbalom was used instead. I personally don’t like it when this happens since the mechanical sound that the keyboard generates doesn’t fit with organic, live orchestral sound. But I did enjoy the folk tunes that were featured in this suite. I think that if I’d known better the story of the opera where this suite was taken from, I would’ve appreciated this piece a lot more.

Concertmaster Gina Medina, violinist Regina Buenaventura
and conductor Arturo Molina

Regina didn’t have an encore and the audience would’ve been left unsatisfied if the orchestra didn’t play an extra piece. The concert duration was already relatively short compared to their previous performances so I think it was wise for the orchestra to play a bit more. And they did play more folk music by performing the orchestral version of Romanian Folk Dances by Béla Bartók. I don’t know how this piece fit with the Magic, Fantasy and Ambition theme that evening but no one complained. I’ve waited some months before the orchestral season resumed and now that they’re back, I couldn’t be any happier.

Eiga Sai 2012 Opening Night

The Eiga Sai is once again in town and that only means that the Japanese culture enthusiasts and movie buffs are braving the weather and the long lines to see contemporary Japanese films for free at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. This annual film event is part of much awaited Philippines-Japanese Friendship Month organized by the Japan Foundation, Manila. Once again, I’ve had the privilege of being one of the guests during the festival’s opening night, an invitational only affair that happened a day before the public screenings began. The guests at the opening night savored the food and the drinks served at the cocktails held at the Atrium before the actual screening of the film. They also had fun at the photobooth which is always a hit in events such as these. This year, the opening film was Akunin (悪人)/Villain which is a movie that thrilled and challenged the viewer at the same time. Before the film was shown, Lala Fojas, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Shangri-La Corporation, Minister Shinsuke Shimizu, Minister and Head of Chancery of the Embassy of Japan, and Shuji Takatori, Director of Japan Foundation, Manila welcomed the audience, gave opening remarks and messages, and ultimately introduced the film.

Shinsuke Shimizu, Shuji Takatori, Lala Fojas, and Yukie Mitomi

Akunin (悪人)/Villain

It is very hard to talk about this film without revealing any spoilers. This movie is adapted from the novel of the same name by Suichi Yoshida. Directed by Lee Sang-il, this movie focuses on Yuichi Shimizu, played by Satoshi Tsumabuki, who becomes the suspect in the murder of Yoshino Ishibashi (Hikari Mitsushima). Another person who is suspected of murdering her is rich, college student Keigo Masuo whom she also met on the night that she died. The first act of this film went on like a typical crime tale that kept the audience guessing as to who was really the murder suspect. But the truth as to who really did it gets known earlier on. Entering the scene as well is Mitsuyo Magome (Eri Fukatsu) whose involvement with Yuichi moved and accelerated the story forward in ways and turns that I never expected. The film disturbed me in a way that a lot of the characters are sympathetic but they all had tragic flaws that eventually blurred the definition of who the villain really is. I left the theater hoping that an English translation of the novel is available at local bookstores since watching the movie made me really interested in getting the source material.

Eiga Sai 2012 will run at the Shangri-La Cinema 4 up to July 15, 2012. The festival then moves to Gaisano South Citi Mall in Davao on July 20-22, 2012. Ayala Center Cinema 4 will be the next stop on August 7-12, 2012. The final leg of the Eiga Sai happens at the UP Film Institute this August 15-21, 2012.

Guitar and koto duo Aki & Kuniko returns

Another Philippines-Japan Friendship Month 2012 event to look out for is the return of the guitar and koto duo of Aki & Kuniko. I was able to watch their performance last year and it’s not just the combination of the guitar and the koto that is to look out for. One also needs to take note of the differing styles of the two with Aki as the rocker with the guitar while Kuniko is the traditional one with the koto. The performance dates (free admission) are as follows:

July 13, 2012, 6:30 PM Abelardo Hall, UP College of Music, UP Diliman

July 14, 2012, 7:00 PM Conspiracy Café, Quezon City

July 16, 2012 6:00 University of the Cordilleras Theater, Baguio City

July 20, 2012 8:45 PM Jazz n’ bluz Bar & Restaurant, Cebu City

July 21, 2012 4:00 PM Ayala Center Cebu

Tickets:

Free admission

For inquiries:

Japan Foundation, Manila 811-6155 to 58, email@jfmo.org.ph