Totally Tinio, a tribute for the late national artist Rolando Tinio, challenged young opera singers to go beyond their own understanding of Tinio’s original translation and to inject character using the Filipino language.
“Translations extended not only to the classical text but to the librettos (script) of opera,” says Frankie Aseniero, a veteran tenor who worked with the late Tinio. Aseniero shared Tinio’s love for the country that he translated the classics of world repertoire to his language.
Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., one of the consistent moving institutions for opera supports young opera singers in encouraging more Filipinos to listen to opera. Dr. Jaime Laya, a Filipinas Opera Society Foundation trustee shared how Filipinos’ love for opera should be felt just as during the Marcos era.
For his part, Jaguar Cars, Inc. Chairman and President and Filipino music and culture advocate Wellington Soong says, “We’re not just about selling cars, we want to go beyond that and to share with you, culture and arts as a part of lifestyle.” In a light moment shared during the event, he said how he wanted to be known for more than just selling cars, he wanted to be known for something more significant.
The intimate presentation showcased Tinio’s translation of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Dies Bildniss Ist into “Anong Rikit, Anong Ganda”; Charles Gounod’s Salut! Demeure chaste et pure into “Mutyang Kay Bini at Dalisay”; Giacomo Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro into “O Tatay kong kay Buti”; Edouard Laló’s Vainement, me bien-aimee into “Di Dapat, Aking Pag-ibig”; Rogers and Hammerstein’s I Have Dreamed into “Yakap Mo’y Aking Napangarap” and other famous works by William Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov.
The original translations were performed by Aseniero along with Nohmer Nival, tenor; Christian Nagaño, tenor; Jade Riccio, soprano; and Myramae Meneses, soprano, respectively.
“It is my life!” says Aseniero, who is considered the primary mover of this occasion. In an interview, he shared that this event aims to reintroduce opera to Filipinos and to widen the range of singers available to the audience.
Opera is regarded as the “total art form” that combines music, singing, drama, and in some cases, dance. The catch for this type of art performance is to move the audience through the singer’s emotions. “You don’t perform and record it, it is a one-time big time performance. It is either you hit or miss it,” explains Nival.
For a long time, this type of art was sapped by the dominance of international music in the country. But with efforts of The Philippine Opera Company, Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. and opera enthusiasts, the art of opera is being brought back to the country.