Philippine Opera Company presents 'Ang Bagong Harana'
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Opera Company’s Ang Bagong Harana goes on its third run this October at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza.
Envisioned as a love song for the country, Ang Bagong Harana is a revue featuring traditional and contemporary Filipino songs, sung not by the legends, but by 10 young, relatively unknown, but dedicated classical singers. Joining them are Karla Gutierrez, Aizel Prietos, Charley Magalit, Janine Santos, Marian Santiago, Arlynne Tecson, Lawrence Jatayna, Noel Rayos, Nazer Salcedo, Marvin Gayramon and Al Gatmaitan with the special participation of the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.
The show begins with an evocation of lost innocence, as expressed through traditional children’s songs (Penpen di Sarapen, Si Filimon, Pamulinawen and Sitsiritsit) sung by the company. From there, the love song to country moves through various evocations — a kundiman suite (Nasaan Ka Irog, Pakiusap, Anak ng Dalita, Madaling Araw), a tribal suite based on the indigenous respect for the environment, a suite of folk songs framed against the backdrop of a fiesta, a tribute to Sylvia La Torre that reconnects with our bodabil roots. But more than just mining the past, Ang Bagong Harana moves swiftly into the present, using OPM classics like Freddie Aguilar’s Anak to make a social commentary.
The Children’s Suite features traditional children’s songs like Penpen de Sarapen, Pamulinawen and Sitsiritsit.“POC’s Ang Bagong Harana serves as a reminder that there is so much to discover and love about our own culture,” says Karla Gutierrez, artistic and managing director, Philippine Opera Company.
Directed by Floy Quintos with music arrangements by four of the country’s most awarded arrangers Von de Guzman, Jessie Lasaten, Jesse Lucas and Paulo Zarate, Ang Bagong Harana still carries the original repertoire, which showcases the works of noted Filipino composers from different music genres: Nicanor Abelardo, Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, Francisco Santiago, Antonio Molina, Resti Umali, George Canseco, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, Jose Estrella, Constancio De Guzman and Felipe de Leon, to name a few.
Ang Bagong Harana will run at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza from Oct. 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, and 28 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 20, 21, 27, and 28 at 3:30 p.m.
For ticket sales, call the Philippine Opera Company at 822-9609, or TicketWorld at 891-9999.
