PHILIPPINE OPERA
COMPANY PRESENTS THE LIMITED RUN OF
“ANG BAGONG
HARANA” ON SEPT. 29 – OCT. 1
The
word “harana” is a Tagalog word (the predominant Philippine dialect) that
connotes a traditional form of courtship in which a man woos a woman’s
affection by singing love songs.
This iconic romantic tradition is the penultimate test
for the Pinoy macho in the early 1920’s to court the woman he fancies in their
neighborhood. Accompanied by two to three other male ‘barkadas’ with the guitar
as the only musical instrument, the main male proponent would sing around two to three locally-written songs
about the joys of love, and how one’s heart longs for the woman destined to be
his wife. Widely practiced all over the Philippines up until World War II, the
‘harana’ is done at night when the folk are already asleep, the ‘lady’ being
courted would get up from her bed and together with her kinsfolk, the ‘window’
is opened as a polite gesture of appreciation until the rest of the songs are
completed. “The ‘harana’ is quite
similar to the balcony scene of William Shakepeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” but
delivered in a medieval poetry.
The
‘harana’ or ‘kundiman’ became a mainstream musical style with veteran
performers namely Diomedes
Maturan and Ruben Tagalog
popularizing it until the late 60’s. Unfortunately, with the advent of newer
music genres, ‘harana’ has quietly been left behind. Today, the young
generation may not even know its real essence as far as Filipino folk
traditions are concerned. And that is the one singular reason why POC is
reviving this beautiful Filipino culture,” says Ms. Karla Gutierrez, artistic
director of the Philippine Opera Company.
In 2008, POC produced the critically-acclaimed hit “
Harana ” as a vehicle to showcase the evolution of Philippine music through
song and movement. Its numerous reviews from Manila’s art cognoscenti and
clamor for more shows further boosted “ Harana ” to conquer the international
scene when it went on a tour of Amsterdam in 2009. Upon the group’s return, the 2010 regional
tour covering the cities of Cebu, Roxas, Antique, Bohol, Dumaguete and Palawan
continued to reap more success and acclaim. For the early part of 2011, “
Harana ” has performed in Bacolod, Ormoc, Tacloban and Samar.
For
the 2011-2012 season of the Philippine Opera Company, “ Ang Bagong Harana ” takes another bold step with a newer and
fresher version with an array of immortal and classic Filipino songs that will
be interpreted in “never seen performances” by the country’s foremost artists
from the field of music.
According
to Floy Quintos (a multi-awarded writer, director and Carlos Palanca winner),
this new ‘harana’ is going to be much more challenging as over-all director
because of the wholistic approach in looking at our culture and the music that
resonates from every region in our country.
“ Ang Bagong Harana ”
will integrate past, present, north, south, colonial, post-colonial experiences
and put them into a revue where our whole souls will be the source of
inspiration. The different suites shall mix old and new songs re-mixed,
re-arranged and re-edited while talking about “ who we are as a Filipino ” and
“ where we have all come from ”.
“ Ang Bagong Harana ” will showcase the best of all the Filipino
songs from different music genres “Pakiusap”,
“Anak Dalita”, “Ili-ili”, “Nasaan Ka Irog”, “Madaling Araw”, “Hating Gabi”,
“Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal”, “Ngayon at Kailanman”, “Penpen di Sarapen”, “Leron,
Leron Sinta”, “Paraiso”, “Iduyan Mo”, “Kalesa”, “Sa Libis ng Nayon”, “Kahit
Ika'y Panaginip Lang” --- to name a few.
“ Ang Bagong Harana ”
will feature Philippine theater’s celebrated singers - Karla Gutierrez, Aizel
Prietos, Charley Magalit, Janine Santos, Marian Santiago, Lawrence Jatayna,
Jack Salud, Nazer Salcedo, Marvin Gayramon, Al Gatmaitan, Jurgen Unterberg and
Floyd Tena.
Musical arrangers for
“Ang Bagong Harana” are
multi-awarded composers and arrangers – Von de Guzman, Jessie Lasaten and Paulo
Zarate.
“ Ang Bagong Harana ”
is truly the musical journey every Filipino should take and all Filipinos
should be proud of. Every suite and costume details were thoroughly researched
by the artistic team.
It’s
a must-see production for every Filipino who wants to hear our very own ‘
kundiman ’ music amidst all other music genres, which are now perpetuating our
local music scene. This will also serve as a musical treat for foreigners as an
initial step to immerse themselves in a truly authentic Filipino music
environment with the hope of making them understand our country’s cultural and
musical heritage.
“ Ang Bagong Harana ”
is also a tribute to the Filipino youth of today. As more and more younger kids
are drawn to become ‘musical artists,’ most of them have been drawn to Western
influences. Perhaps, the young kids of today can learn from “ Ang Bagong Harana
” specially, those who need to assert their own Filipino identity through the
rich music heritage we have.
“ Ang Bagong Harana ”
will have a limited run from September 29-October 1 at 8pm with matinee at 3:30
pm on October 1 at the Carlos P. Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.
For
ticket sales please call Philippine Opera Company at 881-7168 or 0917-5272880
or TicketWorld at 891-9999 or log on to www.philippineoperacompany.com
or Like Harana on Facebook.
Meet the casts on my next post!
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