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MANILA, Philippines – Since the world has not yet ended, Filipinos can look forward to a wide variety of shows and events at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 2013.
The 2013 CCP season that was recently unveiled will offer “new musicals and revivals, classic operas, orchestral concerts, indie films and world cinema, arts festivals and competitions, visual art shows, educational events, and digital and multimedia offerings,” CCP said in a statement.
“The CCP 2013 season, designed to appeal to the broadest audiences, exemplifies the vision of the CCP to make art matter in the life of every Filipino,” CCP said.
In January 2013, “Katy” a revival of the musical based on the life of Bodabil Queen Katy de la Cruz, will begin its showing that will last up to October 27, 2013.
Ryan Cayabyab, Jose Javier Reyes, Mel Villena, Nestor Torre all took part in the production of “Katy” which will feature Isay Alvarez in the lead role.
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) will celebrate its 40th anniversary on January 25 through a special concert featuring new work by Ryan Cayabyab.
On January 19, the CCP will be showing via satellite a high definition videocast of Verdi’s ancient Egyptian drama “Aida” performed in the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
The Pasinaya open house festival will be held in all CCP venues on February 3 and will feature more than 300 shows in music, theater, dance, visual arts, film, and literature. More than 3000 artists will participate in the festival which will focus on Filipino-Chinese or “chinoy” arts and culture.
On February 9, CCP will host Orchestra Nipponica Tokyo from Japan who will play contemporary classical music.
The Shakespearean classic “Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be performed by Ballet Philippines on February 15 to 17. Choreographed in the neo-classical style by Hong Kong-based Carlo Pacis, it is known in the country and abroad for its outstanding artistry, structure and invention, CCP said in the statement.
More Shakespeare in story on February 22 as the PPO plays various works inspired by his tales such as “Overture to the Merry Wives of Windsor” and “Suite from Henry V.”
The CCP will also hold its Gawad CCP Awarding Ceremony and Gala Performance on February 27. Gawad CCP is the highest award given by the CCP to Filipino artists, cultural workers, and art organizations.
The 2013 awardees include Agnes Locsin (dance), Ramon Santos (music), Zenaida Amador (theater), Cirilo Bautista (literature), Brena Fajardo (visual arts), Rodolfo Quizon (film and broadcast arts), Florentino Hornedo (cultural anthropology), and the Siliman University National Writer’s Workshop (art training and education).
A new musical based on the Bicol province folk epic “Ibalong” will also be shown from February 8 up to March 3. The musical will be presented by Tanghalang Pilipino and the Libretto by Rody Vera.
Another concert of the PPO on March 22 will feature Mark Gibson conducting several classics such as George Bizet’s “Jeux d’Enfants” and Maurice Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloe.”
Community theater group Teatro Sta. Ana will perform the traditional Lenten play “Senakulo” with celebrity guest stars on March 23 and 24.
The PPO comes back on April 19 as Maestro Ochanine will conduct works of Mozart and Mahler and a piano concerto featuring the winner of the PPO competition.
Earth Day on April 21 will be celebrated at the CCP’s outdoor venue with artists, cultural workers, environmental advocates, and the general public engaging in participative and eco-friendly activities.
Leading artists of the local musical theater will hold Musical Revue, a concert that will feature songs from Broadway, West End and original Filipino musical on March 14, April 18, and June 13.
Never before seen plays by veteran and new playwrights will be performed for the first time in the CCP during the Virgin Labfest from June 6 to July 7.
“The play festival has earned a solid reputation for its exciting and provocative line-up of one-act plays from both emerging and established playwrights,” CCP said.
Come July, CCP will present a musical for children and the whole family adapted from a children’s book. The show will run from July 11-13 and from July 16-20.
Winners of the National Music Competition for Young Artists will perform in a show entitled “Classical Champs” with the PPO on July 3.
The country’s biggest independent film festival, Cinemalaya, will be held from July 26 up to August 4 in all venues of the CCP. “[Cinemalaya] aims to invigorate Philippine filmmaking by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers,” CCP said.
A special concert series featuring award-winning musicians will begin on July 31 with violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr opening the series. Saraza has played with the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble and was a prizewinner of the Juilliard Competition in 2010.
The Andrea Veneracion International Choral Festival will be held in all venues of the CCP on August 8 up to 11 to bring together choral groups from the Philippines and all over the world to compete in folk music, vocal ensemble, and chamber choir.
“The competition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Philippine Madrigal Singers,” CCP said.
The festival is named after Professor Andrea Veneracion, its found and a National Artist for Music.
Ballet Philippines will stage the romantic tragedy “Giselle” from August 16-18 starring Nonoy Froilan and a guest dancer from a major ballet company in China.
The critically acclaimed production by Tanghalang Pilipino, “Stageshow” depicting the vaudeville stars of the country’s history is set to be performed in the CCP from August 30 up to September 15.
The special concert series in the CCP continues on September 4 with trumpet virtuoso Raymond De Leon performing with the PPO. De Leon is a three-time grand winner of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists and has also won several international competitions.
On September 7, the CCP will hold its Anniversary Gala with virtuosos in the performing arts sharing the stage with next generation artists. The Gala aims to raise funds for the Outreach, Arts Education and Training programs of CCP.
The CCP will also launch workshops on opera and musical theater in September in cooperation with teachers and professionals in from Paris Conservatoire and New York. As a final culmination of the workshop, Jacques Offenbach’s opera bouffle or light comic operetta “La Vie Parisienne,” will be staged featuring opera talents from the Paris-Manila conservatoire with the PPO.
The 150th birthday of Philippine National Hero Andres Bonifacio will be celebrated with a couple of performances dedicated to him in the CCP. Ballet Philippines will stage “The Loves of Andres” a study of the hero’s romantic life essaying his experiences of love as a young man.
“Integrated with a multimedia landscape, this modern look into Bonifacio’s life seeks to inspire the contemporary audience with insight and perspective into the heart of a loving man,” CCP said. It will be shown from September 20 up to 29.
The CCP’s special concert series will end on October 2 with the only female percussionist of the PPO Aimee Mina – De La Cruz performing with the PPO.
From October 27 to November 13, Tangalang Pilipino will stage Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice in a play within a play during the Holocaust where Nazis direct the Jewish ‘actors’ in a version that tackles the dehumanizing effect of racism and intolerance.
The Metropolitan Manila Concert Orchestra will hold a concert for the entire family come Holloween on October 30. Younger audiences can come in their Holloween costumes and the event will also feature an “Instrument Petting Zoo.”
National Artist Virgilio Almario will unveil a new musical opera based on the life, love, failures, triumphs of National Hero Andres Bonifacio. The presentation, entitled “San Andres B.,” will depict his secret life as an artist and how this influenced the anti-colonialist struggle for freedom and independence.
“San Andres B.” will be performed by the Tanghalang Pilipino in the CCP from November 8 up to December 8.
As Christmas draws near, Ballet Philippines will perform a new ballet based on the popular novel “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Edna Vida is the choreographer of the new ballet that will be performed from November 29 up to December 8.
The yuletide season would not be complete with “Parols” or Lanterns, specially designed and constructed by craftsmen of San Fernando, Pampanga that will light up the CCP Complex. There will also be a sound and light presentation after the ceremonial lighting of the lanterns.
The traditional “Simbang Gabi” or Dawn Mass held more than a week before Christmas day will be ushered in with the Grand Chorale singing of Handel’s “Messiah” accompanied by the PPO and led by the Philippine Madrigal Singers.
For more information about all the events at the CCP in 2013, visit its site at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph