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Noli Me Tangere: The Opera (Touch Me Not: The Opera), National Artists Felipe de Leon Sr. and Guillermo Tolentino’s full-length operatic adaptation of Dr. José Rizal’s groundbreaking 1887 novel of the same title, will be staged once more by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and J&S Productions Inc. at the former’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) from January 28 to February 3.
First mounted at Far Eastern University (FEU) in 1957 and again in 1987 at the CCP, Noli Me Tangere: The Opera tells the oft-told story of the idealistic Juan Crisostomo Ibarra (Ronan Ferrer) who returns from his studies in Europe to marry his sweetheart Maria Clara de los Santos (Bianca Camille Lopez, alternating with Aretha Angcao, Nerissa de Juan, and Jade Ricco) and open a school.
However, the influential Spanish Franciscan friar Padre Damaso Verdolagas (John-Andrew Fernandez), the former parish priest of San Diego town in Laguna province who’s Maria Clara’s godfather and the enemy of Ibarra’s late father Don Rafael, opposes the young man’s plans.
Noli Me Tangere: The Oper a also deals with Ibarra’s friendship with the mysterious Elias (Greg de Leon), and the madwoman Sisa (Stephanie Anne Aguilar) and her relentless search for her sons Basilio (Mari Yapjoco) and Crispin (Santino Juan Santiago).
All their stories collectively form a vivid picture of the terrible abuses Filipinos suffered at the hands of the Spaniards ruling the Philippines in the late 19th century.
Noli Me Tangere: The Opera is directed by Jerry Sibal, a Filipino event designer based in New York City who also designed new costumes and sets for the production, which was previously staged in New York, Washington D.C., and Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.
It features more than 200 opera singers, musicians, and crew members, as well as music that will be performed by the just-formed, 53-piece Noli Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera.
Also helping Sibal to bring Noli Me Tangere to robust life is husband and co-executive producer Edwin Josue, assistant director Jose Jeffrey Camañag, sound designer Edwin Mendiola, and lighting designer John Batalla.
“We’d like to instill in the youth that nationalism is very important. We’re very educated, talented, and skillful. The only problem we’re facing right now is the [lack of] love of country,” Sibal said when asked why he wanted the de Leon and Tolentino opera to be restaged.
“We’d also like to create more appreciation of the opera [as an] art form. The opera is [the] highest form of art, because it has architecture, literature, theater, and classical music combined, he added.
“The beauty of Noli Me Tangere: The Opera lies in its use of our own language, Tagalog, and the [traditional] Filipino love song—kundiman—[that are] combined with Western opera influences,” he said.
“We’re glad to welcome back Noli Me Tangere: The Opera to the CCP main stage after 30 years since Fides Cuyugan-Asensio’s Music Theater Foundation staged it in 1987,” CCP President Dr. Raul Sunico said in a statement. “Theatergoers and music lovers shouldn’t miss this rare musical experience. It’s every Filipino’s story set to one of Felipe de Leon Sr.’s finest score.” ALVIN I. DACANAY
Performances of Noli Me Tangere: The Opera are on January 29 and February 3 at 3 p.m. and January 28 and February 1, 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from P1,000 to P3,500. For ticket inquires and discounts, call J&S Productions Inc. at (632) 998-2356, 0926-0380548 or 0921-8903816, or call the CCP Box Office at (632) 832-3704, or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more information about the opera, visit NoliMeTangereTheOpera.com and www.facebook.com/NoliOperaManila.