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PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL NEW YORK
PRESS RELEASE
PR-MDL-10-13
1 February 2013 - MTdeVega
Felipe de Leon’s “Noli Me Tangere” Opera to Debut in New York in October 2013
1 February 2012, New York – Philippine National Artist for Music Felipe Padilla de
Leon’s opera “Noli Me Tangere” is on its way to the New York stage in the fall.
The staging of the Noli opera is being undertaken by a production team composed of
Filipino-American artists and members of the Filipino American Community in the US
Northeast. The shows will be held the first weekend of October 2013 at Hunter College,
New York as part of the celebrations for the centenary of the birth of Maestro de Leon
and Filipino-American History Month.
The New York Production Team spoke about the opera staging at a meeting with Filipino
Community members at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on 31 January 2013.
Consul General Mario L. de Leon , Jr. congratulated the Noli New York Production Team
and expressed the hope that many members of the community will help spread the word
about the show in order to secure more exposure for Filipino artists and Philippine
artistic works.
Various members of the production team including Community Leader Loida Nicolas
Lewis, Ms. Aida Bartolome of the Foundation for Filipino Artists, Inc., renowned guitarist
and conductor Michael Dadap the production’s Musical Director, Stage Director May
Pamana, and Assistant Musical Director Dr. Rene Dalandan spoke about the need to
bring the production to New York. They were joined by Mr. Gerardo Gaddi and Karrel
Bernardo who were part of the Chicago production of the Noli in 2012.
Composer and scholar Bayani Mendoza de Leon, son of the national artist, also spoke
through Skype facilities about the cultural and historic context of his father’s works.
The Community members at the meeting were also treated to special performances of
de Leon’s “Sapagkat Mahal Kita” by Karrel Bernardo and “Ako’y Pilipino” by tenor
Rogelio Peñaverde.
The team is still in the process of finalizing the cast for the opera. END
556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Tel. No. (212) 764-1330
www.newyorkpcg.org
L-R Consul General de Leon with the NY Team and DCG Tess de Vega; Rogelio Penaverde and
Raul Dalandan perform for the audience
L-R Mike Dadap, Loida Lewis, Karrel Bernardo, Gerry Gaddi; Mike Dadap & Karrel Bernardo
perform a classic piece by Felipe Padilla de Leon (photos by Carissa Villacorta, Tess de Vega)
556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Tel. No. (212) 764-1330
www.newyorkpcg.org