Pinoy cast of ‘Noli Me Tangere: The Opera’ lauded in Washington

"Noli Me Tangere: The Opera" and its three main Filipino-blooded cast have received rave reviews from a prominent US newspaper following the opera's run in Washington early August.

According to the Washington Post, "Noli Me Tangere: The Opera," overall "flowed with passages reminiscent of Mozart, Rossini, Puccini and Wagner" when it was staged for two nights at the Kennedy Center, making it the first Filipino opera to be staged in the US capital.

Sal Malaki, who plays the lead character Crisostomo Ibarra, was lauded for anchoring the play with his tenor voice, while baritone Roberto Perlas Gomez was praised for embodying "bravery and righteousness" in his role as Elias.

Filipino-Spanish Antonini Mendezona's performance as the bereaved mother Sisa was hailed as "captivating," and her range "dazzled and pulled heartstrings" during the character's peak scene.

"Baritone Roberto Perlas Gomez's Elias embodied bravery and righteousness, while Antoni Mendezona turned in a captivating performance as Sisa, the mother of two boys, Basilio and Crispin, who disappear, prompting her derangement. Mendezo's coloratura dazzled and pulled heartstrings during her lament in the woods," the Washington Post review said.

According to L.A. Opera, Malaki's operatic background in the US started in 1995, performing solo roles in over 85 productions with the company, including "La Traviata,"Der Rosenkavaliere," "Madama Butterfly," and "La Boheme."

Born in Hinunangan in Southern Leyte, Malaki, according to his Los Angeles Master Chorale biography, majored in voice from UP Diliman, where he also received a teacher's diploma for flute.

Filipino-American philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis, who brought "Noli Me Tangere: The Opera" to Washington and also to New York, said Filipinos in Manila will have a chance to watch the production in September.

The opera, which is based on Jose Rizal's influential 19th Century novel, will run for a limited time from September 12 to 28 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. Gala night will be on September 11.

The Manila run will feature Malaki and Rachelle Gerodias, who will play Maria Clara, Ibarra's sweetheart who was played by Brittany Palmer in the US run.

"Seeing the opera will enhance their love for the art, literature and country," said Lewis. "This is truly once in a lifetime because they may not see Felipe de Leon's 'Noli' opera again since the last time it was presented was  27 years ago, in 1987." —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News