MANILA, Philippines—After more than two years, Giacomo Puccini’s magnificent opera, Turandot will be performed live at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on December 9 at 8 in the evening and December 11, at 3 in the afternoon, at the CCPP’s Main Theatre.
One of the producers is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rustan’s Group of Companies, Zenaida Tantoco, opted to collaborate with the CCP in time for the Philippine-Italian Association’s or PIA 60th anniversary celebration. She noted that performing Turandot by Puccini would be a suitable method to raise funds for PIA and further promote Italian arts and culture in the Philippines.
Image courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
She added that Marco Clemente, the Italian ambassador, had also encouraged her to stage and perform Turandot, “It is just timely that we are commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and the Philippines. The ambassador said he would be happy to co-sponsor two nights of the opera.”
The CCP president Margie Moran-Floirendo told her that Turandot is one of her favorite operas, “Margie was just too happy to support it.”
Zenaida R. Tantoco, The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rustans. Image courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
Tantoco, on the other hand, is aware of the high cost of producing opera in this country. “Anywhere in the world, it takes a lot of financial resources to mount grand opera. The sets, the costumes, and the talent fees of artists need a gargantuan budget. I was just lucky to get the support of people who care about arts and culture in the Philippines,” she Furthers.
Governor Chavit Singson of the LCS Group of Companies, Dr. Jaime Laya of the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., Mr. Ramon Ang of the San Miguel Corporation, and Alice Eduardo of Sta. Maria were among those who endorsed and supported the staging of Turandot. Danny Dolor, a supporter of the arts, Elena Construction and Development Corporation, TG Limcaoco of Bank of the Philippine Islands, Kevin Tan of Hilton Manila, and the Rustan Group of Companies.
Tantoco sees the Turandot production as a positive step for the arts and culture community. ” I am sure Filipino music lovers will enjoy the Puccini opera. The costumes and sets will dazzle them. Plus, the most popular aria in the opera, Nessun dorma, will be heard live accompanied by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under seasoned Italian conductor Valentino Favoino.”
Dr. Jaime Laya, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. (FOSFI) is pleased to collaborate with the Philippine-Italian Association and the Cultural Center of the Philippines on yet another opera event.
Additionally, FOSFI is a co-sponsor of Tantoco and CCP’s production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor in January 2020, which is another opera.
Under the direction of the late Imelda Ongsiako-Cojuangco, the opera foundation was established specifically to foster a love for opera in the Philippines and to support exceptional Filipinos.
“We are delighted to join hands with PIA and CCP in this endeavor that brings the rarely staged Puccini opera to Manila. It is also a great opportunity to hear distinguished Korean and Filipino singers in one big opera collaboration.”
Dr. Jaime Laya, President of Filipinas Opera Society Foundation. Image courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
CCP President Margie Moran Floirendo stated that collaborating with Rustan’s Group of Companies, represented by Nedy Tantoco, made it possible to produce Turandot. “Nedy has been an impresario of opera for some time now. It became timely because we are observing the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and the Philippines. Moreover, the presentation will also help improve opera appreciation in the country. I got to like opera because of early exposure to it along with my daughters. An opera like Turandot is one of the most powerful of the art forms. It combines music, voice, dance, drama, theater, and storytelling and uses massive sets and costumes. It evokes vivid emotions ranging from joy, love, life, loss, death, anger, and sadness that often leads to tragedy.”
For a huge undertaking like the Puccini opera, the Ms. Margie said it is essential to engage with various industries and institutions. “Let’s face it, the cost of producing opera is mind-boggling. Like funding an orchestra and other resident companies of the CCP, it takes a village to mount grand opera.”
Margie Moran Floirendo, President of Cultural Center of the Philippines. Image courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
The staging was enthusiastically supported by the Italian Embassy, according to Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente. “The Italian embassy will provide substantial financial contribution. Opera was created by a group of Renaissance intellectuals in Florence more than four centuries ago. It is undisputable that the general public still tends to associate the very concept of opera to Italy and to the Italian language. For that reason, it is important for an Italian Ambassador to strongly support live performances of Italian operas, especially after the long closure of theatres due to the pandemic.”
Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente. Image courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
The staging of Turandot, which is a spectacular and grand way to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Italy, was agreed by the Italian ambassador. “I join Filipino opera lovers in anticipating the most popular aria in the Puccini opera, Nessun dorma.”
Italian Director Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini who also directed Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the CCP in 2020 will arrive in early November to direct.
Soprano Lilla Lee, who plays Princess Turandot, and bass Jinsu Lee, who plays Timur, the exiled Tartar king, are the major vocalists from Korea.
Liu is sung by soprano Rachelle Gerodias, Ping, the Grand Chancellor, is portrayed by Byeong In Park, and Pong, the Grand Intendant, is sung by tenor Ivan Nery. Emperor Altoum is played by tenor Nomher Nival, and Mandarino is portrayed by baritone Greg de Leon.
The distinguished choral ensembles of the Viva Voce Voice Lab will perform alongside the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Valentino Favoino. Members of the opera dance ensembles will come from the ranks of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines.
Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini is the director of the Turandot at the CCP in 2022, while Prince Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong is the deputy director. The director of the lighting is Giovanni Pirandello.
Image courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Italian Embassy, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and the Rustan’s Group of Companies collaborated to make Turandot in Manila possible.
Sponsors of the two-day opera gala include the San Miguel Corporation, LCS Group of Companies, and Sta. Hilton Manila, Danny Dolor, Elena Construction and Development Corporation, and BPI.
For ticket reservations and inquiries, contact, CCP Box Office (8832-3704), TicketWorld (8891-9999) and SM Tickets (8470-2222, 0917-8702222).