A great opera. Musicals and a monthly harana (serenade) highlighting the beauty of Filipino music (and open to the public). A festival in which the poet and the spoken word are kings. Composers to take center stage. A dance-musical on heroes.
And the blockbuster Broadway musical “Beauty and the Beast” to get things rolling in January.
These are just some of the treats awaiting audiences at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) this coming year.
This was announced at a recent press conference at the CCP’s Aurelio V. Tolentino Theater. Tantalizing excerpts from selected shows were performed. Among other performers, Lisa Cabahug of Tribung Pinoy Foundation sang Francisco Santiago’s iconic piece for operatic sopranos, “Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran?” and Sandino Martin, who has matinee-idol looks which make matrons swoon, rendered a soulful song from Ballet Philippines’ (BP) “Manhid.”
Young male BP dancers, caparisoned in flaming red, performed a striking number while wielding red fans like weapons. And those were florid verses from a poet.
CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Chris Millado presided over the presentation.
“Manhid” (starting Feb 16.) is billed as an original rock-ballet-musical in which ordinary young characters are transformed into Filipino superheroes. Shades of Zsazsa Zaturnnah!
BP will also stage “Nwo-Filipino” in July-August.
Philippine Ballet Theater, the other major dance company of the CCP, will mount well-loved works such as “Don Quixote” (July); “La Bayadere” (September); and “The Nutcracker” (November).
March 11 will see the start of “Harana sa Dapithapon” (sunset serenades), a musicale featuring kundiman, and other classic songs and folk songs which have withstood the test of time. These will be rendered by classically trained singers and will be held for free at
the CCP main lobby. “Harana” will be staged monthly for eight months.
And there’s a musical on Marco Polo on March 24-36.
Uncensored is the word for the Manila Fringe Festival, bringing together fresh and experimental works from Filipino and foreign artists, emerging and established, from the seven lively arts and even beyond —as in performance art, circus and “every other artistic genre in between,” according to the drumbeaters.
The highly successful Triple Threat series, which for the past two years has highlighted top performers who can dance, sing and act (not necessarily in that order), will focus this time on composers for the theater, specifically Ronnie Portich, Vince de Jesus and Jessie Lucas. The series takes place on Aug. 20, Sept. 24 and Oct. 22.
Tanghalang Pilipimo, the resident drama company of the CCP, will present on July 3-19 “Mabini ang Mandirigma,” and “Mga Buhay na Apoy” (Dangerous Liaisons) on Aug. 24-30.
“Mandirigma” is a coda on the 150th birth anniversary of the national hero Apolinario Mabini, with libretto by Nicanor G. Tiongson and music by Jed Balsamo.
“Mga Buhay” is a drama about a family reunion which degenerates into an arena of conflict. It was written by Auraeus Solito (now Kanakan Balintagos) when he was 25; he also directs the play.
Berlin-based soprano Andion Fernandez returns on Aug. 25 to perform a composition by Jeffrey Ching (incidentally her husband), “Chamber Requiem,” with the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble.
And on Sept. 29-30, another great opera by Puccini, “Tosca,” will be staged, with Korean conductor Jae-joon Lee directing the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
November will see two major events: the 33rd Asian Composers League Festival and Conference (Nov. 7-8) and “Performatura: The Spoken Word Festival” (Nov. 10-11), in which poets from many parts of the country will present their works through words, music and new media.
Millado said the 2015 season had no real theme, but the CCP wanted to project Filipinos as a happy people with a powerful culture. He added: “We are communicating the youthfulness of the Philippines.”