Little-known translations of opera arias in “Totally Tinio”

ROLANDO Tinio was not only a renowned director, but a playwright, an actor and a designer. He was also equally admired for his translations of the classics of the Western theater. His range as a translator covered not only the works of Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov and other masters, but extended to the operas of Verdi and Puccini.

His most famous translations (and productions of these) were “La Traviata” and “La Boheme,” which were produced by Cultural Center of the Philippines. But very few are aware of his translations of other arias from Gounod’s “Faust” and Lehar’s “Kismet” to Puccini’s “Turandot” and Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” His genius for translation extended to the pop songs of Burt Bacharach and Michel Legrand. Tinio was posthumously named National Artist for Theater and Literature in 1997.

Recital

Young classical singers who never met or worked with him now have the unique opportunity to interpret Tinio’s translations in a recital, fittingly titled “Totally Tinio.”

The recital, a joint project of the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation Inc. and Jaguar Cars Inc. features sopranos Myramae Meneses and Jade Rubis Riccio and tenors Christian Nagano and Nohmer Nival, together with Frankie Aseniero. They will be accompanied by Farley Asuncion on the piano. Also featured is classical guitarist Rafael Ronquillo.

It was Aseniero who worked closely with Tinio, and who kept many of the translations. “Like most geniuses, Rolando was very generous with his gifts. He would hand me the texts and encourage me to share them with other singers. I do so now, almost 40 years after these were first written, with young, classically-trained singers who now have a chance to discover Rolando’s genius.”

In the repertoire are arias from operas “La Boheme,” “Traviata,” “Carmen,” “Turandot,” as well as classic Broadway musicals “Kismet” and “The King and I.”

“Totally Tinio” runs today at Jaguar Showroom, Bonifacio Global City. Reception begins at 6 p.m., with the recital starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Call Jaguar Cars at 8652277 for reservations.