PRESS RELEASE
January 28, 2022
THE Cultural Center of the Philippines, in partnership with the Tribung Pilipino Cultural Foundation headed by nationalist art patron and 2020 Gawad CCP Para sa Sining Awardee Danny Dolor brings back traditional Filipino music in a collection of Philippine art songs in an online platform with MASAYANG KABUKIRAN which will be streamed on February 1, 2022 at 6pm on the CCP Facebook page. The online event kicks off the celebration of the February Arts Month this year.
This production adopted the concept of Harana sa Dapit Hapon, a series of afternoon concerts/musicales first staged at the CCP Main Theater Lobby in 2015, showcasing traditional Filipino music; the immortal kundiman, harana, balitaw, danza, and cherished love songs by great Filipino composers. The online event features leading Filipino performers including soprano Rachelle Gerodias, soprano Jasmin Salvo, Korean baritone Byeong In Park, tenor Arman Ferrer, and the Kabataang Gitarista.
Featured songs include Sa Libis Ng Nayon, Rosas Pandan – Pobreng Alindahaw, Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig, Katakataka, Makikiliti Kang Totoo, Kalesa, Habang Ako Ay May Buhay, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Minamahal Kita, Medley of Philippine Folk Songs, Ang Maya (The Sparrow), Ano Kaya Ang Kapalaran, Sa Kabukiran, Tag-araw, and Ikaw ang Mahal ko.
Rachelle Gerodias is a winner of “The Outstanding Young Men” and “The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service” awards, as well as the first “Aliw Awards Hall of Fame” awardee for Best Female Classical Performer, thereby cementing what many have long known: that she is currently the country’s brightest gem in the field of opera and classical vocal performances. Her career has spanned more than 2 decades of critically-acclaimed and award-winning performances, among them as soloist under internationally-renowned conductors and as featured guest soloist with national orchestras all over the world.
Jasmine Salvo graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Music, Major in Vocal Performance at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. She has won at the Singapore Lyric Opera, the ASEAN Vocal Competition, and the Jovita Fuentes Vocal Competition. Jasmin has played several roles in opera productions here and abroad.
International Korean baritone Byeong In Park studied under acclaimed tenor Francisco Araiza at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart, Germany. Since his studies in Germany, he has been actively performing in opera productions and concerts around Europe and Asia. In 2018, his portrayal of Belcore in Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” placed his name in L’Opera Magazine. His most recent triumph was the role of Enrico in the production of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Arman Ferrer is one of the country’s brightest actors in musical theatre today. He was taking up music at the UP when he first joined an audition for the zarzuela, “Walang Sugat” at the Ateneo in 2010. An operatic tenor, he bagged the lead role of Tenyong and since he had no experience in acting, he was first given an acting workshop. He would later reprise the same role in Tanghalang Pilipino’s staging of “Walang Sugat” at the CCP, directed by Carlitos Siguion Reyna. Since then, he has appeared in other stage productions.
The Kabataang Gitarista Ensemble is the performing ensemble of Kabataang Gitarista. All of them are current college students, taking classical guitar as a degree course in different institutions. They are all products of classical guitar training under Kabataang Gitarista, starting from zero knowledge of classical guitar as junior high school students of different public schools in Manila and Parañaque.
For more information, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) or follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.