Legarda Invites Everyone to ‘Noli Me Tangere, The Opera’

Senator Loren Legarda invites everyone to watch ‘Noli Me Tangere, The Opera’ on March 8-10, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) main theater, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.

Legarda, Honorary Chair for this opera presentation, said that the return of National Artists Guillermo Tolentino and Felipe Padilla De Leon’s most beloved 1957 opera, ‘Noli Me Tangere, The Opera’, coincides with the CCP’s 50^thanniversary.

‘Noli Me Tangere, The Opera’ is based on Dr. Jose Rizal’s 1887 classic novel that tells the timeless story about love, betrayal, and hope set against a repulsive backdrop of tyranny, torture and murder.

“Noli Me Tangere is perhaps the most important piece of literature every Filipino should read. This opera version provides a fresh approach to understanding Dr. Jose Rizal’s most popular novel and aims to engage more young people towards discovering our rich history and cultural heritage,” said Legarda, Senate Committee on Finance Chair, who ensured funding for the opera under the 2018 national budget.

Produced by J&S Productions Inc., the production includes about 200 actors-classical singers, classical musicians, and production crew. It is co-directed by New York-based event stylist Jerry Sibal, who also did the set design and costumes, and veteran actor-director Jose Jeffrey Camanag, featuring the 53-piece NOLI Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera.

“This project showcases not only the works of National Artists Guillermo Tolentino and Felipe Padilla De Leon but also the exceptional talents of our present-day actors-classical singers, classical musicians, and production crew,” said Legarda.

“I thank everyone who shared their time, effort, talent, creativity and passion to make this possible and I commit to continue giving my full support to similar endeavors that preserve and promote our history, art and cultural heritage. Congratulations to our artists and cultural workers and I invite everyone to watch ‘Noli Me Tangere, The Opera’,” Legarda concluded.