Philippine Opera Company celebrates it’s 15th year anniversary and will set out on a cultural mission tour in the United States and Canada in commemoration of the 118th Philippine Independence Day.
Philippine Opera Company (POC) is the only opera company in the Philippines that produces regular opera productions and has been the leading classical music agency for over 12 years and a member of The Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group (PHILSTAGE), the country’s only organization of professional performing arts companies.
Founded in 1999, it is managed by classical performing artists whose thrust is to sustain as well as develop more audiences for classical music theatre in the Philippines. It is committed to extending opera beyond its elitist pedestal by performing in malls, churches, community centers, parks, and schools as well as in theatres thereby making opera more accessible to more audience.
To celebrate the fusion of music and drama, to share this passion for opera and help nurture this medium in our country – to this goal the Philippine Opera Company is committed to, most of all in developing a new generation of classical singers and audiences, and to develop our own Filipino style of presenting opera. POC also helps develop opera appreciation among Filipinos by performing outreach programs for schools, government agencies and private corporate organizations throughout the country.
Over the years, the Philippine Opera Company also witnessed the sudden uptrend in the awareness and appreciation of opera and classical related performances by Filipinos particularly the young, educated segment of society. This favorable development has led POC to launch its very first annual opera season in the country.
After the successful launching of the 2006 Opera Season with Terence McNally’s Tony Award Winning piece “Master Class” with award-winning actress Cherie Gil playing the lead role, “Operanow 2: An Evening of Puccini”, “Opera-lite … the first opera bar tour”, and Mozart’s “Magic Flute”. In 2008, Philippine Opera Company embarked on its full-length opera production of Puccini’s most loved opera, “La Boheme” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Philippine Opera Company is committed to promote and preserve Philippine’s music heritage through its cultural arm, “HARANA” which performed in Amsterdam and garnered 3 standing ovations from the foreign community.
Philippine Opera Company received the “Maria Carpena Memorial Award for the Arts” for POC’s contribution in the promotion and appreciation of the traditional Filipino music.
This coming June, Philippine Opera Company’s “HARANA” will perform in Canada to showcase the evolution of Philippine music through song, movement and drama. The repertoire is composed of six suites. Each suite is theatrically presented with authenticity, originality and visual excitement. The creation of each Harana suite is a product of thorough research with the commitment to preserve indigenous Philippine music and its appropriate dance and folklore. It aims to promote international goodwill through performances at home and abroad.