Felipe Padilla de Leon’s opera, “Noli Me Tangere,” had a good crowd in its limited engagements on March 8-10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Standouts were tenor Nomher Nival as Crisostomo Ibarra, Bernadette Mamauag as Sisa, Nerissa de Juan as Maria Clara, Joseleo Logdat as Elias and Noel Comia Jr. as Basilio.

Hermie Ranera led the University of Santo Tomas Symphony Orchestra which provided competent accompaniment. Singing ensemble was fairly good; Mia Bolanos’s Doña Victorina was entertaining.

Co-directors Jerry Sibal and Jeffrey Camanag acquitted themselves well in this production.

“Noli” will have a return engagement on May 3-5.

Sopranos

In connection with the International Women’s Month, young sopranos will be presented in a special concert at the Ayala Museum on March 28.

Concert will give insights on heroines in  the operas of  Verdi, Donizetti, Mozart, Bernstein, Debussy, Bellini.

Featured are Stefanie Quintin, second prize winner  in the Second Asean Vocal Competition (professional category; no first prize)  in Hong Kong, and Myramae Meneses, who just graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Also featured: Anna Migallos,  from London’s  Royal School of Music, and 20-year-old Nerissa de Juan, from  the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music who has just  played Maria Clara in  Felipe de Leon’s “Noli Me Tangere.” Collaborating artist is pianist Gabriel Allan Ferros Paguirigan. —CONTRIBUTED

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