\MANILA, Philippines - The University of the East, through UE’s Office of Cultural Affairs, will present Philippine Opera Company’s Harana, A Cultural Journey today, 2 p.m. at the UE Theater.
Harana’s highly-celebrated singers, each accomplished soloist in his/her own right, consist of (soprano) Karla Patricia Gutierrez, Marian Santiago, Aizel Prietos, Janine Santos, Charley Magalit; (tenor) Nazer Salcedo, Floyd Tena, Jurgen Unterberg; (baritone) Marvin Gayramon.
Harana, the country’s phrase for serenade, which is Filipino’s traditional form of courtship in which a man woos a woman’s affection by singing underneath her window, illustrates the evolution of Philippine music through song, movement and drama. The repertoire comprises six suites; each suite theatrically presented with authenticity, originality and visual excitement. Harana’s suites include The Igorot Suite, The Maria Clara Suite, The Rural Suite, The Folk Suite, The Muslim Suite, and The Contemporary Suite. The creation of each suite is a product of thorough research with the commitment to preserve indigenous Philippine music and its appropriate dance and folklore, according to Philippine Opera Company.
Admission is free, on a first-come first-served. For details, call the UE OCA director Gener Caringal and staff Coco Ramos, with tel. nos. 735-5471 loc. 441 or log on to www.ue.edu.ph.