Multimedia forms of the 20th and 21st century - Summary Notes

OPERA

  • Definition: An opera is a drama set to music with vocal pieces and orchestral accompaniment on an elaborate stage.
  • Libretto: the text of the opera; writer called librettist or dramatist.
  • Dialogue: always sung and never spoken.
  • First Philippine Opera in Tagalog vernacular: Sandugong Panaginip; Father of Philippine Opera: Ladislao Bonus.
  • Staged at Teatro Zorilla on 2 August 1902; Sampaguita was one of its memorable melodies and was made after La Alianza Sonada.
  • Operas:
    • La Loba Negra: means The Black She-Wolf; a Filipino opera in 3-acts; composed by Francisco Feliciano and written by Fides Cuyugan Asensio; first staged in 1984; Acts I-II cover history of the Philippines; Act III is based on the story of Fr. Burgos.
    • Noli Me Tangere, The Opera: means ‘touch me not’; based on the novel by Dr. Jose Rizal; composed by Felipe Padilla de Leon and written by Guillermo Tolentino; first staged in 1957 at the FEU Auditorium.
    • El Filibusterismo, The Opera: intended for Filipinos crying out for freedom; written by Felipe Padilla de Leon; librettist Anthony Morli.

BALLET

  • Etymology: The word ballet came from the French word 'ballette'; French from Italian 'balletto' meaning “a dance.”
  • Well-known composers: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russia) and Jean-Baptiste Lully (France).
  • Ballet uses bodily movements and facial expressions to portray and interpret stories, novels, and folktales.
  • In a ballet company:
    • male dancer: danseur
    • female dancer: ballerina or danseuse
    • lead female: Prima Ballerina; lead male: Premier Danseur
    • first Filipina prima ballerina: Lisa Macuja-Elizalde
  • Ballet works:
    • Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang
    • Rama Hari
  • Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang: Written by Severino Reyes; depicts a grandmother on her rocking chair with little children surrounding her in amazement of her stories.
  • Rama Hari:
    • Meaning: ‘King Rama’
    • Plot: journey of Prince Rama; modified version of Ramayana, Indian epic.
    • First shown in 1980; Hindu concept of 'Darma' noted as a righteous life and behavior.

MUSICAL PLAY

  • Definition: Musical plays in the Philippines are usually about biographies of important persons, novels rewritten for this form, and other literary pieces. Bodabil is the Filipinized version of American vaudeville, term coined by Cebuano Luis Borromeo.
  • Notable figures: Bayani Casimiro (Fred Astaire of the Philippines); Eddie Mesa (Elvis Presley of the Philippines); Diomedes Maturan (Perry Como of the Philippines); Nora Aunor (Philippine Cinema Superstar).
  • Musical plays list: Atang, Katy! The Musical; Andres Bonifacio, Ang Dakilang Anak-Pawis; Florante at Laura; Daragang Magayon; Noli Me Tangere, The Musical; Magsimula Ka, The Musical.
  • Atang, The Musical: about Honorata de la Rama-Hernandez; presented in 2008 at the Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, UP Diliman.
  • Katy! The Musical: about Katy de la Cruz; presented in 1988 by Actors Studio East.
  • Andres Bonifacio, Ang Dakilang Anak-Pawis: life of a national hero; restaged at CCP Main Theater with Jerry Dadap as composer-conductor and Elmo as Bonifacio; presented in 2014 by UP College of Music and Andres Bonifacio Concert Choir.
  • Florante at Laura: Tanghalang Pilipino at CCP Little Theater in 1988 to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of Francisco Balagtas-Baltazar; Music by Ramon Santos; Poetry by Virgilio S. Almario; Dramaturgy Abdon M. Balde.
  • Daragang Magayon: first staged in 1991 at CCP Loading Dock; based on a famous Bicolano legend about love, beauty, and tragedy; tells the story of a beautiful maiden named Daragang Magayon (meaning ‘beautiful maiden’).
  • Noli Me Tangere, The Musical: based on Rizal’s novel; presented in 1996 at CCP Little Theater; produced by Tanghalang Pilipino.
  • El Filibusterismo, The Musical: based on Rizal’s novel; presented in 1997 at CCP Main Theater; produced by Tanghalang Pilipino.
  • Magsimula Ka, The Musical: written by Gines Tan; presented in 1988 at CCP Main Theater; story about four youths—Miguel, Monina, Mandy, Mario—whose dreams confront life’s realities.

QUICK TEST

  • 1. Primary characteristic that distinguishes opera: All dialogue is sung rather than spoken. Answer: b
  • 2. Father of Philippine Opera and groundbreaking work: Ladislao Bonus with Sandugong Panaginip. Answer: c
  • 3. Text or script of an opera: Libretto. Answer: c
  • 4. La Loba Negra first staged in: 1984. Answer: c
  • 5. Opera based on Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel: Noli Me Tangere. Answer: c
  • 6. English translation of La Loba Negra: The Black She-Wolf. Answer: a
  • 7. Composer and librettist for El Filibusterismo, The Opera: Felipe Padilla de Leon and Anthony Morli. Answer: b
  • 8. First performance location of Noli Me Tangere: FEU Auditorium. Answer: c
  • 9. Act III of La Loba Negra depicts: The story of Fr. Burgos. Answer: c
    1. Memorable melody associated with Sampaguita: Sampaguita. Answer: b