QUARTER IV: 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY MULTIMEDIA FORMS

Opera- an art and musical form in which singers and musicians perform dramatic work combining text
(called libretto) and a musical score, usually in an elaborate theatrical setting
- incorporates many of the elements of spoken theater (acting, scenery, costumes) and sometimes
dance
- held in an opera house, cultural center, theater or auditorium
- accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble and the dialogues is entirely sung and
not spoken

 PHILIPPINE OPERA
As the locals were being exposed to Western art and music, they were also realizing their own
talents and passion for the opera. That period in Philippine history was ripe for artists to voice their
own sentiments about love of country and longing for independence from colonial rule.
The element of tragedy, emanating from the popular themes of romance, deceit, murder,
vendetta and other human frailty, became a favorite story pattern of the Filipino opera. Some operatic
works were based on previous literary creations, such as Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
The tragic endings and unresolved conflicts made them excellent choices for an operatic production.

Local Theaters and Early Philippine Operas

The Teatro Zorilla (Zorilla Theatre)- also known as the Dulaang Zorilla sa Maynila was a prominent theatre in
the Philippines
Teatro Zorilla, Principe Alfonso, Variedades, Quiapo and Tondo Theaters were the choice venues for mainly
Italian operas that came to the country such as Lucia di Lammermoor, La Boheme, La Traviata and Aida. Later
other opera venues were established, led by the Manila Grand Opera House and the Metropolitan Theater
(Met). The establishment of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) by then First Lady Imelda Romualdez-
Marcos in 1969 paved the way for other Filipino operas to be staged at a legitimate venue of international
standard.

Sandugong Panaginip (The Dreamed Alliance)- first Filipino opera

- first presented at the Zorilla Theater on August 2, 1902
Pedro Paterno- creator of Sandugong Panaginip, a poet, novelist, musician and government official
Bonifacio Abdon- first Filipino opera conductor
Dr. Ramon Javier- first Filipino opera impresario

Original Philippine Operas

1. La Loba Negra (The Black She-Wolf)
-three- act Filipino Opera
-Acts I and II are based on history and Act III is based on a legend attributed to Fr. Jose Burgos
-music was composed by National Artist Francisco Feliciano, with libretto soprano Fides Cuyugan Asensio
-The premiere was held in 1984 with National Artist for Theater and Film Lamberto Avellana as director

The story takes place in the 17th century, during the time of Spanish rule in the Philippines. It revolves
around the tragic assassination of Spanish Governor- General Fernando Bustamante, whose administration
was greatly admired for its planned reforms in the colonial administration. As massive corruption and abuse
by the Spanish friars were prevalent, the entry of Governor- General Bustamante to institute reforms did not
sit well with the powerful priests. Thus leading to his untimely death. The story thus focuses on the bitter
reaction and planned revenge by his wife Doña Luisa 9La Loba Negra) on the religious perpetrators.
2. Noli Me Tangere
-three-act opera composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon with libretto by National Artist Guillermo
Tolentino
-premiered in 1957 at the FEU Auditorium
-directed by Morli Daram
3. El Filibusterismo (The Filibuster)
-composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon in three acts with libretto in Filipino by Anthony Morli
- staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1970

It tells the continuing struggle of the Filipino people to achieve freedom from Spanish rule. Through the
major characters involved, the novel reflected the prevailing state of the Philippine colonial government and
society that had become corrupt and immoral. As a result. A revolution was seen as the only hope for change.

Ballet- has been used to interpret stories of all kinds through body movements or pantomime (not spoken
dialogue)
- the lack of spoken words or sung lyrics is more than made up for by the dancer’s creative steps, arm
gestures, facial expressions and body movements, which add more meaning to the story being
revealed
- performance is enhanced by colorful costumes, elaborate sets, stirring music and synchronized
choreography

 PHILLIPPINE BALLET
Original Filipino Ballets vividly present folktales based on local fables (ex. Lola Basyang) and
epics from neighboring region (ex. India’s Ramayana). Highly expressive movements and steps
dramatize the actions in the representative stories, while the colorful sets and costumes add to luster
and attraction of the productions

1. Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang- ballet adaptation of Severino Reyes’ folktales Mga Kuwento ni Lola
Basyang
- meant to instill and rekindle the interest of the Filipino youth in the
beauty,
richness and values found in Philippine literature
- two episodes of such stories were presented by Ballet Manila (Tatlong
Kwento ni Lola Basyang (2009) and Tatlo Pang Kwento ni Lola Basyang
(2013))
 Ang Kapatid ng Tatlong Marya- fantasy story set to neo- ethnic music in a contemporary style
- about a hero’s fantastic journey to different kingdoms in pursuit of his
bewitched sisters
- music by Joey Ayala with choreography by Lisa Macuja- Elizalde
 Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin- local version of the Pied Piper tale where the main character mesmerizes his
followers through the music of his violin
- the story imparts the moral lesson that good triumphs over evil
- music by Ryan Cayabyab, arranged by Arnold Buena, with choreography by
Tony Fabella
 Ang Prinsipe ng Mga Ibon- love story where a princess falls in love with a bird
- music is taken from selected musical works of National Artist, arranged by
Mon Faustino, choreographed by Osias Barroso

Tatlo Pang Kwento ni Lola Basyang

 Ang Palasyo ng Mga Dwende- a romantic adventure about a heroine named Yani whose heart is as
beautiful as her appearance
-the story revolves around how Yani saves her father from the Queen’s
spell that put him to sleep and how she manages to survive the cruelty
of
her stepmother and stepsisters back home
- choreography by Gerardo Francisco which shows the influence of
Mindanao and the ancient Pintados through its neo- ethnic movements
 - music and musical arrangements are by Diwa de Leon using a hegalong
(boat-like two-stringed lute form Mindanao)
 Labindalawang Masasayang Prinsesa- a romantic fantasy about 12 daughters of the king that secretly
leave their bedroom at night to travel to an enchanted land and
dance with the princes
- choreographed by Liza Macuja- Elizalde
- music includes OPM hits such as Kailangan Kita and Ikaw and
Lahat Sa Akin arranged by Arnold Buena
 Anting-Anting- horror- comedy in which the cowardly hero Huan tries to overcome his fears in order to
win his love
- the slapstick comedy is enhanced by exaggerated movements as Huan is later
haunted by ghosts that add to his fears and which he seeks to ward off with an
anting-anting (lucky charm)
- musical arrangements are by Juan Carlo Magsalin, with choreography by Osias
Barroso in collaboration with Michael Divinagracia

2. Rama Hari (King Rama) - Philippine adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana set to music, dance and drama
- it was originally presented in 1980 with music by Ryan Cayabyab, choreographed
by National Artist Alice Reyes, libretto by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, and
the theater design by National Artist Salvador Bernal

 MUSICAL PLAYS
- popular and generally lighter form of musical drama than the opera
- themes are usually more contemporary and the musical melodies are more manageable by the
average singer
- acting is less intense and dramatic and the choreography and dance sequences provide entertaining
breaks in the unfolding plots

Broadway (New York City) and West End Musicals (London)

Showboat- first major Broadway musical in 1972
Musicals and their themes:
The King and I- Siamese royalty
My Fair Lady- English aristocracy
The Sound of Music- Austrian history
Camelot- medieval English tragedy
West Side Story- interracial gang rivalry and romance
Other hit productions through the years have included South Pacific, Cabaret, Les Misérables, Phantom
of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Cats, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Wicked and Mama Mia. Majority of these
musicals have also been made into films, bringing them to much wider audiences the world over.

Broadway Musicals- popular entertainment with themes and texts which are generally light and easy to
understand
- these may include the problems of everyday life, such as love and romance, social
acceptance, jealousy and intrigue and adventure
Lea Salonga, International Theater Star- attained superstar status on both London’s West End and Broadway
- best known of her portrayal of Kim (a role for which she won the
prestigious Tony Award for theater in the USA and the Laurence
Olivier Award in London) in the musical Miss Saigon
- garnered the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for
the
same role in the USA
- first Filipina to have won so many international awards for a single
role
 - first Asian to play the role of Eponine in the musical Les Misérables,
she
also returned to play the role of Fantine in the same musical
- portrayed Mei-Li in the 2002 Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song

Miss Saigon- first opened at West End in London in 1989 and closed in 1994
- musical by Claude- Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr.
- modern adaptation of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly which tells the tragic tale of a
doomed romance involving an Asian woman who is abandoned by her Caucasian lover
- the setting of the plot is relocated to 1970’s Saigon during the Vietnam with Madame Butterfly’s
love story between an American lieutenant and a Japanese geisha modified into a romance
between an American soldier and a Vietnamese bar girl

The Phantom of the Opera- a Broadway musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe, with lyrics by
Charles Hart and music by Lloyd Webber
- based on the novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
- one of the longest- running Broadway musicals of all time
The story focuses on a beautiful singer Christine Daaé as she is seduced by a mysterious disfigured
musical genius known as the “Phantom of the opera”. The Phantom lives beneath the Paris Opera House and
terrorizes who work there. He demands that Christine be the star of the theater’s productions. When the
young singer rejects the Phantom’s advances and her lover Raoul intervenes, the Phantom sets no limits in his
pursuit of revenge and of Christine’s love. However, Christine escapes with Raoul to the roof, where she tells
him about her underground meetings with the Phantom. Raoul is skeptical but swears to love and to protect
her always.

Les Misérables- nicknamed “Les Mis”

- a musical composed in 1980 by French composer Claude- Michel Schonberg with libretto by
Alain Boublil, based on the novel Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
- most famous of all French musicals and one of the most well- loved musicals performed
worldwide
Les Mis tells the story of paroled convict Jean Valjean who, failing attempts to find work as an honest
man, breaks his chains and conceals his identity in order to live his life again. Other characters in the musical
include the police inspector Javert, who becomes obsessed with finding Valjean; Fantine, the single mother of
Cosette, who is forced to become a prostitute to support her daughter, Eponine, the young daughter of
Thénardiers who falls in love with Marius; the Thénardiers, who own an inn; and Enjolras and other students,
who are working toward freeing the oppressed lower class in France.

 PHILIPPINEM MUSICAL PLAYS

In the Philippines, the musical play is a more recent development than on Broadway and the
West End, relying mostly on adaptation of novels, literary works or biographical sketches of famous
artists.

1. Andres Bonifacio: Ang Dakilang Anak Pawis- five- act work commissioned by Alfonso Puyat in 1979
- depicting the life of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio
- music is by Jerry Dadap
2. Atang- Dulang May Musika- written by Floy Quintos, directed by Alexander Cortes and with music by Von
de Guzman
- performed at UP Diliman in 2008 as part of the Zarzuela Festival organized by
the UP College of Arts and Letters
- musical based on the life of the first superstar of the Philippines, Atang de la
Rama
3. Katy!- about the life of bodabil star Katy de la Cruz
- music and musical arrangements were by Nonong Buencamino, based on the book and lyrics of Tony
Perez
 - the play commissioned by Ryan Cayabyab for the music, Jose Javier Reyes for the lyrics and starred
Mitch Valdes in the title role
4. Florante at Laura- presented by Tanghalang Pilipino at the CCP Little Theater (Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino)
from July 7 to 24, 1988 in celebration of the 200 th birth anniversary of the author
Francisco
Balagtas- Baltazar
- official Philippine entry to the first ASEAN Theater Festival in August 1988
5. Daragang Magayon- production for poetry and mixed media, portrays the myth surrounding the origin of
Bicol’s famed Mt. Mayon
- based on a poem by Merlinda C. Bobis and was first presented at the Cultural Center of
the Philippines’ Loading Dock on March 1 and 2, 1991
6. Noli Me Tangere- staged at the CCP Little Theater from February 1 to 4, 1996 as a production of Tanghalang
Pilipino
- creative team included Ryan Cayabyab as composer and musical director, National Artist
Bienvenido Lumbrera as librettist, Edna Vida as choreographer, National Artist Salvador
Bernal as set and costume designer and Nonon Padilla as stage director
7. El Filibusterismo- staged at the CCP Main Theater from August 8 to 10, 1997 as a production of Tanghalang
Pilipino
- creative team was composed of Ryan Cayabyab for music, Jovy Miroy for the libretto,
Edna
Vida for the choreography, National Artist Salvador Bernal for the set and costume
design
and Nonon Padilla for stage direction
8. Magsimula Ka- by Gines Tan was staged at the CCP Main Theater from April 7 to 24, 1988
- one of the longest- running musicals at the CCP
The story of young dreamers whose ambitions begin to fade amidst life’s realities. They are part of a
graduating class filled with hope but end up compromising their idealism for their own survival. The play
responds to the young peoples’ lingering question of whether there is hope for them in this cruel world. A
major factor in realizing this hope is to start and uphold one’s talent or ambition despite all odds.