MANILA, Philippines -Philippine Opera Company’s “Harana” Visayan Tour, sponsored by the Filipino Heritage Festival, Department of Tourism, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, was held in celebration of Filipino Heritage Month.
The artists — sopranos Arlynne Lupas-Tecson, Florence Aguilar-Barquez, Jennifer Villegas and Karla Gutierrez, tenors Nazer Salcedo, Miguel Castro and Sherwin Sozon — sang, danced and performed in Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Palawan. Repertoire included Filipino classical masterpieces like Bituin Marikit, Usahay, and Iyo Kailan Pa Man, among others. The Harana CDs were sold out on the second show.
The seven performers brought everyone on a journey through Philippine culture and song — the rhythmic chants of the Igorot Suite, majestic music of the Maria Clara Suite, and wonderful colors of the Muslim Suite, rural simplicity of the Folk Suite and the tear jerking reality of the Contemporary Suite.
The vivid colors of the costumes designed by Zenaida Gutierrez, the sweeping cinematic music and arrangement of Von de Guzman, the superb choreography of Ina Feleo and the powerful and moving voices brought together a spectacle that roused the nationalistic spirit of the locals. The Philippine Opera Company’s “Harana” opened the 48th Cultural Season of Siliman University’s Cultural Affairs Committee in Dumaguete. The concerts were held at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium. Starring Ana Feleo, Florence Aguilar-Barquez, Jennifer Villegas, Karla Gutierrez, Arlynne Lupas-Tecson, Nazer Salcedo, Juan Alberto Gaerlan and Sherwin Sozon.
For inquiries, call the Philippine Opera Company at 892-8786 or 881-7168.