Andrew Fernando News

So how do you sell a show that was conceived and first staged more than 50 years ago--an opera at that --to a younger audience who probably haven't even heard of Verdi, Puccini, or Maria Callas? The much-awaited return of the Filipino stage classic seems to be tackling just that.

The long awaited return of the country's first full-length grand opera NOLI ME TANGERE (this opera was last seen in Manila 27 years ago), inspired by José Rizal's 1887 classic romantic novel 'Noli Me Tángere' ('Touch Me Not'), featuring music by National Artist Felipe de Leon and libretto by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino, held its gala performance at a nearly packed house of 1,500 theatergoers at Resorts World Manila's Newport Performing Arts Theater last night.

J&S Productions Inc., in cooperation with Resorts World Manila, alongside presenters San Miguel Corporation, PLDT, Smart, and Meralco, has just revealed the full cast for the long awaited return of the country's first full-length grand opera NOLI ME TANGERE Opera to Manila (this opera was last seen in Manila 27 years ago). Gala is set for tonight at Resorts World Manila's Newport Performing Arts Theater (Newport Boulevard, Newport City Pasay); the opera, whose production budget is pegged at PHP 40-60M, officially opens tomorrow and will run until Sunday, September 28.

Jose Rizal, who wrote the 1887 classic romantic novel 'Noli Me Tangere' ('Touch Me Not'), which inspired the creation of 1957 opera of the same name--the country's first full-length grand opera--was a staunch advocate for education. For that same reason: educating and interacting with young Filipino students, international producers Loida Nicolas Lewis, Jerry Sibal, and Edwin Josue are staging the opera, which has already been seen in Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C., at Resorts World Manila's Newport Performing Arts Theater (Newport Boulevard, Newport City Pasay) from Friday, September 12, to Sunday, September 28.

Philippine National Artists Felipe Padilla de Leon and Guillermo Tolentino's 1957 opera NOLI ME TANGERE made its New York stage debut last night at The Kaye Playhouse in Hunter College (68th Street and Lexington Avenue).

BroadwayWorld.com had the first glimpse of Philippine National Artists Felipe Padilla de Leon and Guillermo Tolentino's 1957 opera NOLI ME TANGERE'S impending New York stage debut when we visited its dress rehearsal at the Danny and Sylvia Kaye Playhouse in Hunter College last night.

BroadwayWorld recently sat down with the president and CEO of Jerry Sibal Design (formerly Design Fusion) Jerry Sibal, who is also the set and costume designer for NOLI ME TANGERE-OPERA, where he generously shared with us his set design concepts for the opera that will play a limited run at The Kaye Playhouse in Hunter College from Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6.

At the sitzprobe, one of the very first rehearsals with the cast of around 30 actors and 35-piece orchestra musicians, seasoned Filipino American conductor Michael Dadap said he hopes that New York audiences would not miss this rare opportunity to catch the limited run of Philippine National Artists Felipe de Leon (music) and Guillermo Tolentino's (libretto) finest work, NOLI ME TANGERE-OPERA, based on the 1887 classic romantic novel by the Philippines' National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, which runs at The Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College Friday, October 4 through Sunday, October 6, 2013.

This year's The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York Heritage Award recipient The Foundation for Filipino Artists Inc., together with executive committee members Loida Nicolas Lewis, Aida Bartolome, Jerry Sibal, Michael Dadap, Dr. Angie Cruz, Edwin Josue and Robert Perlstein, brings to New York Felipe Padilla de Leon, Philippine National Artist for Music, and Guillermo Tolentino's 1957 opera 'Noli Me Tangere,' based on the 1887 classic romantic novel by Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero.