It is said that the character of Elias in Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere is the most unique personality in the famous novel. As a villager with little education, the injustices suffered by his family under the guardia civil and friars have sharpened his intellect and vowed to fight social injustices and prejudices.
An opera in three acts based on Rizal’s 1887 novel goes on stage tonight at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (March 8-10, 2019). The CCP celebrates its 50thanniversary this year.
“Noli Me Tangere” is a full-length opera combined with orchestral arrangements from kundiman composition and Western classical music tradition.
Chosen to play Elias is Marinduque’s homegrown talent, Joseleo Logdat who started singing as a choir boy in a chapel in Brgy. Balimbing, Boac, Marinduque under the tutelage of the late Rev. Fr. Edwin Sager.
Logdat eventually earned a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance at Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima, Japan, among others and has competed and received international vocal and music competitions in Singapore, Austria, and in Osaka and Yokohama (Japan).
A timeless story of love, betrayal and hope, Noli Me Tangere depicts the abuses suffered by Indios at the hands of Spanish tyrants, set against a repulsive backdrop of tyranny, torture and murder.
The opera illustrates “social cancer,” a rotten system of governance, the illicit way of the Church and the unfavorable trade of the privileged class.
This all-new production will be a grand gathering of cast and crew of 200 actors-classical singers and musicians. “Expect a brand-new production of the ‘Noli Opera.’ We will be using LED walls instead of mapping projections alongside physical set pieces, which create a more ‘cinematic’ look and feel. Although it’s very expensive to mount this opera, ambitious even, we’d like this new production to be more affordable to students, tickets at 50 percent off, suggested by CCP and the art enthusiasts,” says New York-based event stylist, set and costume designer Jerry Sibal.
Sibal and veteran actor-director Jose Jeffrey Camañag co-directed the 2019 production that will feature the 53-piece Noli Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera.
Among others, leading the cast are Nerissa de Juan and Bianca Lopez (Maria Clara); Ivan Nery and Nomher U. Nival (Juan Crisostomo Ibarra); Allison Cervantes, Kelly Peralejo and Bernadette Mamauag (Sisa); Joseleo Logdat (Elias); Greg Abelardo de Leon (Pilosopo Tasyo); Nils Flores and Ronaldo Villaruel Abarquez (Padre Damaso; also Kapitan Tiago at certain performances); Miguel Espiritu (Kapitan Tiago); Noel Comia Jr. and Mari Yapjoco (Basilio) and Santino Juan Santiago (Crispin).
The opera will be performed with English supertitles with a gala performance tonight, 8 March (8 p.m.) and matinee performances on 9 to 10 March (2 p.m.).
For tickets: J&S Productions Inc. at 0947-168-1714, 0915-819-3459, or (02)998-2356, CCP Box Office at (02) 832-3704/06, TicketWorld at (02) 891-9999.
This story was written by Eli Obligacion first published on Marinduquegov.blogspot.com “Marinduque’s award-winning artist performs in Noli Me Tangere, the opera at CCP tonight“.
