Philippine Opera Company to stage ‘Harana’ at BGC/
Philippine Opera Company’s (POC) “Harana” will be staged on June 10, 8 p.m., at the Globe Auditorium, BGC Arts Center.
The show is part of BGC Arts Center Festival in celebration of the 119th Philippine Independence.
“Harana” received the UFCABC Heroes Award from the United Filipino-Canadian Associations in British Columbia. It was also was awarded the Image Award from the Federation of Filipino American Association.
Philippine Opera Company also received the Image Award Certificate of Recognitions from the United States House of Representatives signed by Rep. Alan Lowenthal in Long Beach, California.
The word “harana” is a Filipino word that connotes a traditional form of courtship in which a man woos a woman’s affection by singing love songs.
The harana or kundiman became a mainstream musical style with veteran performers namely Diomedes Maturan and Ruben Tagalog popularizing it until the late ’60s. 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,” said Karla Gutierrez, POC artistic director.
“Harana” will showcase the best of all the Filipino composers from different music genres—Nicanor Abelardo, Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, Francisco Santiago, Antonio Molina, Resti Umali, George Canseco, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, José Estrella, Constancio de Guzman and Felipe de Leon to name a few.
The show will feature Philippine theater’s celebrated singers—aside from Gutierrez, Melisa Camba, Cris Go, Lorraine Lisen, Nazer Salcedo, Noel Rayos, Cristiani Rebada and Ron Biñas.