Ana Feleo: Vocal habits are hard to break

Ana Feleo gets the biggest break in her operatic career when she performs her very first full-length opera in Giacomo Puccini’s best-loved opera, La Boheme to be staged at Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Main Theater on Oct. 3. She will be playing the role of Musetta the character in the opera who sings the famous aria Quando men ‘vo.

“Musetta, for me is a damaged soul. Shattered by the difficulties of life, of poverty and failed relationships in the past. She gathers strength from all of these experiences, and becomes this strong, fearless woman. Passion rules her life. In her heart, she knows that Marcello is her soul mate. Despite their petty fights and jealousy, they know that they cannot live without each other. Passion runs their relationship,” says Ana.

Asked how she prepared for the role, “I trained with W. Stephen Smith in Juilliard School of Music to prepare me vocally for the role. And then I also had several acting classes with my mother (film director and acting coach Laurice Guillen), along with the other cast members for the emotional and character obligation of each role. We also had weekly training with Maestra Helen Quach to master the score of Puccini since June of this year.”

“Probably the most challenging part of my preparation was when I left to study in New York. I had to shoulder everything financially. My parents, of course helped, but that was it. I had to get rid of my fears of going to Juilliard alone. I had to undo a whole lot of vocal habits and humble myself to receive whatever corrections and work my teacher had to give me. I have gone through my own share of difficulties in all aspects of my life. But like Musetta, these trials never stopped me to allow myself to feel, to love, and to aspire. I believe that my passion for love, for my art, and for my craft is what fuels me to go on with life, and to enjoy life.”

The storyline is simple — Mimi and Rodolfo find love, lose love and then find love again at the end of the play, right before Mimi dies. A second storyline involves the relationship between Marcello, a bohemian writer, and Musetta, a vivacious redhead who makes a living by feeding off her sugar daddy. Rodolfo and Marcello are supported by their roommates, a professor named Colline and a musician named Schaunard.

Ana is an Aliw Awardee for Best Actress in a Musical for 2007. She received her music education at the College of Music, University of the Philippines under the tutelage of Professor Emeritus Fides Cuyugan- Asensio.

She has performed in various oratorios, concerts, operas and musicals such as Magnificat, Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal, Alikabok, Something To Crow About, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Oraciones, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s Messiah, Saint Saen’s Christmas Oratorio, Gilas!, Operanow I, Mozart’s Magic Flute and many more. Her most significant role, however, was in the world premiere of the Filipino opera, Spoliarium: Juan Luna, where she played Paz-Pardo de Tavera- Luna, the murdered wife of Luna, written by Prof. Fides Asensio and composed by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab.

What makes the production even more interesting according to Karla Gutierrez, artistic and managing director of the Philippine Opera Company is that “each performer incorporates the whole package of youth, beauty, powerful voice, showcasing his unbelievable talents on stage. Director Floy Quintos was able to bring out the best in all of his performers with his creative fresh new direction. Aside from the amazing talents, the production is further enhanced by the sets of Jo Tecson, the high-tech video design by Furball and lighting design by Monino Duque, truly making the show a must see.” 

Furthermore, La Boheme has been credited by The New York Times as “the world’s most popular opera,” and is incidentally, experiencing a renewed flurry of traditional and new interpretations on Broadway and national opera theaters around the world to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Puccini.

La Boheme Manila is set to open on Oct. 3 with a cocktail gala at 8 p.m. and Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. and a 3 p.m. matinee on Oct. 5 (sold out) at the main theater of the CCP.

Alternating with Ana Feleo as Musetta is Elaine Lee. Playing the lead roles are tenors Juan Alberto Gaerlan, Dondi Ong and Gary del Rosario, who by the way also sang Parpignol in the Rolando Tinio version of Boheme at the CCP in the ’90s. Mimi, on the other hand, will be performed alternately by Jennifer Uy, and Maribel Miguel. Baritones Lawrence Jatayna and Jesus Baang plays Marcello while Joseleo Logdat and John Ocampos plays Colline and Schaunard, respectively.

Sharing the stage is a 65-piece orchestra to be performed by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of international conductor Helen Quach. 

La Boheme is supported in part by the Yuchengco Group of Companies, Actors Studio, McDonald’s, 92.3 XFM, Sabella Fashion, Makeup Forever and Power Mac Center.

For details, call 892-8786, 891-9999 or log on to www.philippineoperacompany.com.