Summary
Highlights
Opera originated in Italy in the late 16th century and combines dramatic work with music, featuring singers, musicians, librettos, and elaborate theatrical settings. It incorporates elements like acting, scenery, costumes, and dance, performed in opera houses or cultural centers with orchestral accompaniment. Dialogues are sung as recitatives, and the orchestra plays a crucial role in conveying emotions.
Filipino Opera began to develop in the mid-19th century, influenced by foreign performers and Spanish zarzuela. Common themes included romance, deceit, murder, vendetta, and other human frailties, often leading to tragic endings and unresolved conflicts.
The video highlights several historic Philippine theaters: Teatro Zorrilla (named after Jose Zorrilla), Metropolitan Theater (a significant Art Deco building), Variedades Theater (known for accessible entertainment), Teatro de Tondo (operational before 1829), and Circo Teatro de Bilibid (a converted bullring with a large seating capacity).
Sandugong Panagínip, the first Filipino Opera, featured a libretto by Pedro Paterno, translated by Roman Reyes, and music by Ladislao Bonus. Staged in 1902 at the Zorrilla Theater, it symbolized the acceptance of American rule and was produced by the Molina Benito Theater Company.
Lakánbini by Patricio Mariano premiered in 1933 at the Metropolitan Theater. It featured prominent operatic divas like Nelia Manalo and Mercedes Matias Santiago, and later, their students.
La Loba Negra (The Black She-Wolf) is a three-act Filipino Opera attributed to Father Jose Burgos. It tells the story of Governor-General Francisco Bustamante's assassination and his wife Luisa's revenge, who becomes La Loba Negra.
The opera Noli Me Tángere, composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de León with a libretto by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino, premiered in 1957. Based on Jose Rizal's novel, it depicts Spanish colonization and the mistreatment of Filipinos, inspiring revolution and reflecting societal roles through detailed characters.
El filibusterismo, composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de León with a libretto by Anthony Morli in 1970, is a three-act opera in Tagalog. As a sequel to Noli Me Tángere, it explores the Filipino people's struggle for freedom and emancipation from colonial rule, portraying a corrupt and immoral government that necessitates revolution.
The video provides brief excerpts from performances of La Loba Negra, Noli Me Tángere, and El filibusterismo, with links provided for viewers to watch the full videos.