History of Opera in Western Classical Music

Music and Opera

• Opera is a part of Western classical music tradition that originated in Italy and spread throughout Europe in the 16th century.
• It is a theatrical work that combines dramatic text (libretto) with music, elaborate scenery, and costumes.
• Opera is typically performed in an opera house, cultural center, theater, or auditorium with an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble.

Notable Filipino Operas

• La Loba Negra (The Black She-Wolf) is a three-act Filipino opera based on the tragic execution of three martyred priests in 1872.
• The music was composed by Francisco Feliciano, a National Artist, and the libretto was written by soprano Fides Cuyugan Asensio.
• Noli Me Tangere, The Opera is a three-act opera based on the novel of Dr. Jose Rizal, composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon.
• Rama Hari is the Philippine adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana, set to music, dance, and drama.

Musical Play

• A musical play is a theater production that combines songs, dances, acting, and spoken dialogues.
• In the Philippines, musical plays often rely on adaptations of novels, literary works, or biographical sketches of famous artists.
• Musical plays are a modern and lighter form of classical opera, with less intense and dramatic acting, more contemporary themes, and catchy melodies.

Notable Filipino Artists

• Lea Salonga is the first Filipina to win different international awards in a single role.
• Florante at Laura was presented by Tanghalang Pilipino at the CCP Little Theater.

Arts and Theater

• The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) was founded by Cecile Guidote-Alvarez.
• Tanghalang Pilipino is the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, founded in 1987.
• A set designer creates the physical stage setup, while a lighting designer coordinates closely with the set designer to create the mood of each scene.

Recreation and Health

• Recreation is an activity done for enjoyment during leisure time.
• Active recreational activities require deliberate physical efforts and can range from light to vigorous intensities.
• Sprains are stretched or torn ligaments, while dislocations occur when two bones that form a joint become separated.
• PRICED is an acronym for Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and Diagnosis, used to treat injuries.
• A health career is an occupation or profession that requires special training, designed to familiarize students with various careers in the medical profession and allied health services.