In the continuing year-long celebration of Jose Rizal’s birth sesquicentenary and also as a pre-birth centennial tribute for National Artist Felipe de Leon, Dulaang UP is proud to present Noli Me Tangere: The Opera. This production of de Leon’s classic with libretto by Guillermo Tolentino marks only the third time since the 1980s that Rizal’s immortal novel is staged not as a play but as an opera.

Directed by DUP Artistic Director Alexander Cortez ( Cayabyab/ Asensio’s Spoliarium, Lumbera/Letaba’s Hibik at Himagsik nina Victoria Lactao, Quintos/De Guzman’s Atang: A Play with Music, Quintos / Africa’s St. Louis Loves dem Filipinos: The Musical), Noli Me Tangere: The Opera is a testament to the ingenuity of the Filipino artist. With two pianos providing the accompaniment to the powerful voices of young and talented artists, the 2011 staging of this opera welds energy and fresh insight together with tradition to breathe life into Rizal’s opus through the transcending power of music.

Under the watchful tutelage of vocal coach and music supervision of Camille Lopez Molina,promising opera singers Myramae Meneses, Antonio Ferrer, Luigi Manzano, Elaine Vibal, Chuck Hipol, Mark Queddeng, Michael Bulaong and veterans Jonathan Velasco, Jean Judith Javier, Joy Abalon Tamayo, Cynthia Guico, Rica Nepomuceno and Natasha Cabrera among many others from UP and other music conservatories interpret memorable songs from the opera. Among the songs included are Maria Clara’s Kay Tamis ng Buhay, Maria Clara and Ibarra’s duet Sa Lupang Pangako, Sisa’s haunting aria Awit ng Gabi, and Ibarra’s Aking Isinangguni to name but a few. Talented actors from the Dulaang UP ensemble complete the cast. Accompanists are pianists, Greg Zuniega, Noel de la Rosa and Jourdan Petalver.

Production designer Gino Gonzales puts to good use Philippine indigenous materials for the sets and the inabel cloth from the Ilocos region for the costumes. Lighting designer Jon Jon Villareal, sound designer Jethro Joaquin, and choreographer Dexter Santos collaborate to create an all-Filipino ambience fitting for the production. Winter David provides the video support with special props designed and executed by John Gaerlan. Pow Santillan renders the graphics design with photos by Jojit Lorenzo.

Noli Me Tangere: The Opera runs from November 16 to December 4, 2011 (Wednesday to Friday, 7pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am and 3pm) at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman. For sponsorship and ticket inquiries, please contact Cherry Bong Edralin at 09177500107, or the Dulaang UP Office at 926-1349, 981-8500 local 2449 or 433-7840.

Noli Me Tangere: The Opera is supported by the UP Office of the President, UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor, Office of the Dean College of Arts and Letters, UP Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, Ms. Irene M. Araneta, Dr. Joven Cuanang and NCCA Chairman Jun de Leon.