It takes a village to mount grand opera so a village will mount this Puccini classic at the CCP in December
After more than two years, live opera returns at the Cultural Center of the Philippines main theater with Puccini’s monumental opera, Turandot.
The Puccini opera will have a gala night at the CCP main theater Friday Dec. 9 and a gala matinee on Dec. 11 at 3 p.m.
Nedy Tantoco, one of the producers representing Rustan’s Group of Companies, said she decided to tie up with the CCP in time for the celebration of the 60th year of the Philippine-Italian Association (PIA). “Presenting Turandot by Puccini would be an appropriate way to further promote Italian arts and culture in the Philippines and in the process raise funds for PIA,” she said.
Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente also encouraged her to produce and mount 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,” Tantoco added.
Turandot is one of the favorite operas of CCP president Margie Moran Floirendo who, according to Tantoco, is just too happy to support it,” said Tantoco.
Producing an opera is a major undertaking. “Anywhere in the world, it takes a lot of financial resources to mount a grand opera. The sets, the costumes, the talent fees of artists need gargantuan budget. I was just lucky to get the support of people who care about arts and culture in the Philippines,” Tantoco said.
Among those who endorsed and supported the mounting of Turandot were Governor Chavit Singson of LCS Group of Companies, Dr. Jaime Laya of Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation, Alice Eduardo of Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corporation, TG Limcaoco of Bank of the Philippine Islands, Kevin Tan of Hilton Manila, arts patron Danny Dolor, and the Rustan Group of Companies.
Tantoco believes the staging of Turandot is a welcome development in the arts and culture scene. “I am sure the 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.”
I was just lucky to get the support of people who care about arts and culture in the Philippines. —Nedy Tantoco
Dr. Jaime Laya pointed out the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. (FOSFI) is glad to be a partner of the Philippine-Italian Association and the Cultural Center of the Philippines in yet another opera presentation.
FOSFI has also co-sponsored another opera production organized by Tantoco together with the CCP, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor in January 2020.
The opera foundation was created under the leadership of the late Imelda Ongsiako-Cojuangco, precisely to promote appreciation of opera in the Philippines and to support talented Filipinos.
“We are delighted to join hands with PIA and CCP in this endeavor that brings the rarely staged Puccini opera in Manila,” said Laya. “It is also a great opportunity to hear distinguished Korean and Filipino singers in one big opera collaboration.”
Producing Turandot became feasible, according to Floirendo, with the tie up between CCP and Rustan’s Group of Companies represented by Tantoco. “Nedy has been an impressario of opera for so metime now. It became timely because we are observing the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and the Philippines,” she said. “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, storytelling and it uses massive sets and costumes. It evokes vivid emotions ranging from joy, love, life, loss, death, anger, and sadness that often lead to tragedy.”
The CCP president said it is crucial to collaborate with other sectors and institutions for a monumental project like the Puccini opera. “Let’s face it, the cost of producing opera is mind-boggling,” she said. “Like funding an orchestra and other resident companies of the CCP, it takes a village to mount grand opera.”
Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente said the Italian Embassy was just too happy to support the project. “The Italian embassy will provide substantial financial contribution,” he said. “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 theaters due to the pandemic.”
The Italian ambassador agreed the staging of Turandot is a timely and grand way of celebrating the 75th anniversary of Philippine-Italian diplomatic relations. “I join Filipino opera lovers in anticipating the most popular aria in the Puccini opera, ‘Nessun dorma,’” he said.
Italian director Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini who also directed Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the CCP in 2020 will arrive early November to direct.
Three distinguished Korean singers lead the cast, namely tenor James Lee as Calaf, soprano Lilla Lee as Princess Turandot, and bass Jinsu Lee as Timur, the exiled Tartar king.
Soprano Rachelle Gerodias sings the role of Liu, Byeong In Park takes the part of Ping the Grand Chancellor with tenor Ivan Nery as Pong, the Grand Intendant. Also in the cast is tenor Nomher Nival as Emperor Altoum and baritone Greg de Leon as Mandarino.
Maestro Valentino Favoino will lead the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra along with distinguished choral ensembles of the Viva Voce Voice Lab.
Members of the opera dance ensembles will come from the ranks of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines.
So why watch Turandot?
First of all, it is a grand opera and the scale and spectacle is genuinely dazzling and accessible to Filipino audiences.
Second, the Puccini opera will see Manila audiences watching the pomp and pageantry in ancient China as imagined by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini.
Last but not the least, Filipino opera fans will once more hear the world’s most famous tenor aria, “Nessun dorma,” replete with awesome stage sets and local choirs.
Indeed, Turandot will be worth the wait.