11 October 2013 - The Philippine Consulate General hosted a dinner reception for the executive committee, artistic production team and the cast and crew of the “Noli Me Tangere, The Opera” on October 06 at the official residence of Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. in New York.
Based on Dr. Jose Rizal’s literary masterpiece with music by Felipe Padilla De Leon and libretto by Guillermo Tolentino, the opera’s Grand Gala performance was successfully held on October 04 at the Kaye Playhouse in Hunter College in New York City, to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Foundation for Filipino Artists, Inc. (FFAI), one of the opera’s major sponsors. Two more performances were held on October 05 and 06. The staging of the opera coincides with the Filipino-American History Month.
Attending guests at the dinner included Mrs. Loida Nicolas Lewis, Opera Gala Chairperson; Mr. Edwin Josue and Ms. Angie Cruz, Gala Co-Chairs; Ms. Aida Bartolome, Founder and Executive Director of the FFAI; Mr. Jerry Sibal, Opera Executive Producer; and Mr. Michael Dadap, Artistic Director and Conductor for the opera.
“I am extremely pleased and honored to host the men and women who were behind the very successful staging of Noli Me Tangere, The Opera in New York. The Filipino and American audience who were able to watch the show were very delighted at the quality of the performance and production of the opera. I hope that this opera will bring about a renaissance of Philippine arts in the US and elsewhere,” Consul General De Leon told his guests at the dinner.
Since its founding in 1988, the FFAI has been an important partner of the Consulate in the promotion of Filipino arts and culture especially among the youth. END