The Philippine Opera Company’s (POC) acclaimed musical revue “Ang Bagong Harana,” featuring traditional and contemporary Filipino songs, will be back this October in celebration of POC’s 15th anniversary.

From children’s songs to tribal chants, from planting songs to courtship ditties, from stirring kundiman to the delightful showstoppers by Sylvia la Torre, “Ang Bagong Harana” showcases the works of noted Filipino composers from different music genres—Nicanor Abelardo, Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, Francisco Santiago, Antonio Molina, Restie Umali, George Canseco, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, José Estrella, Constancio de Guzman and Felipe de León, to name some.

“Ang Bagong Harana” was envisioned as love song to our country,” says Karla Gutierrez, who heads the Philippine Opera Company.

“We wanted to show audiences that there is so much wealth that modern Filipinos can mine from our traditional and contemporary music. And we wanted to showcase young singers who have committed themselves to classical singing and to our traditional material.  It was a show that had the audience who came to see it at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at RCBC Plaza, weeping and applauding with joy.”

“Ang Bagong Harana” features Karla Gutierrez, Cris Go, Lorraine Lisen, Melissa Camba, KL Dizon, Cristiani Rebada, Michael Odoemene, Noel Rayos, Lawrence Jatayna and Nazer Salcedo, with the special participation of the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.

The show is directed by Floy Quintos, with music arrangements by four of the country’s most awarded arrangers—Von de Guzman, Jessie Lasaten, Jesse Lucas and Paulo Zarate.

“Ang Bagong Harana” runs Oct. 17 and 24 (8 p.m.) and Oct. 18, 23 and 25 (3 p.m.) at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza. Call 8229609, 0917-5272880 or 8919999. Like Philippine Opera Company on Facebook.