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''Noli Me Tangere'' (''Touch Me Not)'' is an
opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...
in 3 acts by
Felipe Padilla de León Felipe Padilla de León (May 1, 1912 – December 5, 1992) was a Filipino classical music composer, conductor, and scholar. He was known for composing different sonatas, marches and concertos that reflect the Filipino identity. De Leon was also ...
with libretto by
Guillermo Tolentino Guillermo Estrella Tolentino (July 24, 1890 – July 12, 1976) was a Filipino sculptor and professor of the University of the Philippines. He was designated as a National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture in 1973, three years before his de ...
. The opera was closely based on a novel by José Rizal by the same name. The opera was sung entirely in Tagalog and is considered as the first full-length Filipino opera.


Composition history

The librettist wrote the libretto during the war and the composer started writing the opera in 1953. However two arias from the opera, Maria Clara's "Kay Tamis ng Buhay" and Sisa's "Awit ng Gabi" were written earlier, with the former being written in 1949 and the latter written in 1952 for
Fides Cuyugan-Asensio Fides Belza Cuyugan-Asensio (born August 1, 1931) is a Filipino coloratura soprano, actress, director, librettist, translator, and teacher.Gatchalian, E., Tan, A. (2019). ''CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art'' (Vol. 7: Music). Manila: Cultural C ...
's Graduation Recital. Felipe Padilla de León also wrote an opera based on Rizal's sequel to the novel: '' El filibusterismo'' (Subversion) in 1970.


Performance history

The opera was premiered on 5 February 1957 at the Far Eastern University auditorium, with the
Manila Symphony Orchestra The Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is one of the oldest orchestras in Asia. Founded by Alexander Lippay in 1926, the orchestra has played a major role in Philippine history, including acting as a symbol of resistance during the Second World War. ...
conducted by the composer. The success of the first made possible for several other performances, all with full-house attendances. However, it had to wait for several decades until it was performed again; in 1975 at the
Cultural Center of the Philippines The Cultural Center of the Philippines ( fil, Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas, or CCP) is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines.Presidential Decree No. ...
under the baton of the composer. It was performed again in 1987, again at the CCP and at the
University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 20 ...
to commemorate the centenary of the novel's publication.(2019). ''CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art'' (Vol. 7: Music). Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines. No performances ensued at the Philippines for many years until it was finally revived by the Dulaang UP in 2011 & 2012. It was further staged at
Resorts World Manila Newport World Resorts (formerly Resorts World Manila) is an integrated resort, located in Newport City, opposite Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. The resort is owned and operated by Tra ...
in 2014, and then finally back at the CCP in 2017 and twice in 2019. Performances were staged overseas in the United States. It was performed in several cities in 1988 (using the 1987 production with reduced performers). More recently, it was performed in
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
(2012), New York (2013), at the
Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...
at
Washington D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...
(2014), at
Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...
(2016), and at
Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
(2017).


Roles


Synopsis


Act 1


At the spacious sala of Kapitan Tiago's house in San Diego

At the house of Kapitan Tiyago, a reception is held to celebrate the return of Crisostomo Ibarra after a 7-year stay in Europe. Among the guests was Padre Damaso, who denounced the character of the Filipino people (Indio) derisively. During a much heated conversation among the guests Crisostomo Ibarra arrives accompanied by Kapitan Tiyago. Unaware of the situation, Ibarra approached Damaso, only to be rebuffed. The sudden death of Ibarra's father continues to puzzle him, and the news of Maria Clara coming to the house mitigates his deep thoughts. Ibarra announced that he is going to build a schoolhouse to honor his father's memory. The guests move to the dining room as Maria Clara arrives to the scene accompanied by Tiya Isabel. Ibarra rushed to welcome them. The lovers now alone reminisce on sweet memories spent together. The act ends with Ibarra remembering that
All Souls' Day All Souls' Day, also called ''The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed'', is a day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, observed by certain Christian denominations on 2 November. Through prayer, intercessions, alms and ...
is nearing, and leaves to pay respects to his late father.Sibal, J., Josue, E. (2019)
"Noli Me Tangere, The Opera" 2019 Souvenir Program
'' pp. 30-31


Act 2


Scene 1 - A street on the outskirts of San Diego

At the cemetery, two grave diggers were resting. One of them tells a story of how he exhumed a grave that is barely a month old on a stormy night. Ibarra then enters and asks for the grave of his father. One of the diggers replied that he dug the grave to put it to the Chinese Cemetery (a cemetery for heretics) by orders of a priest. This enraged Ibarra and the digger eventually told him that he had thrown the body to a river instead to the Chinese Cemetery. Ibarra leaves enraged as Pilosopo Tasyo enters, happily waiting for the upcoming storm. As the rain started to fall Pilosopo Tasyo noticed Basilio and Crispin. He said to them that they should go to their mother's house as she has prepared a wonderful dinner. However, shortly after this Crispin gets accused of theft by one of the priests and both of them are punished. Basilio escaped but is injured by a gunshot wound. Meanwhile, Sisa gets abused by two Guardia Civils.


Scene 2 - A part of the woods near the lake

Young people of San Diego were happily having a picnic by the shores of a lake to celebrate the return of Ibarra. During the celebrations a crocodile was spotted by the fishermen. The news caused panic among the people. Elias attempted to drive away the crocodile but is endangered. Ibarra saves him and kills the crocodile. Elias thanks Ibarra for saving him and he also warned him to be careful of his enemies. During the picnic Sisa wandered around, lamenting and finding her lost children. While Ibarra elaborates on his plans to build a schoolhouse, Padre Damaso joins the scene and ridicules Ibarra's plans. Ibarra, greatly enraged, grabbed a knife, and approached the priest. The interference of Maria Clara and other guests stopped Ibarra from doing further injuries to the priest.


Act 3


Scene 1 - Maria Clara's bedroom

Maria Clara is seen in her bedroom depressed. The news of Ibarra getting excommunicated and banished from San Diego greatly saddened her. Tiya Isabel, Sinang and Andeng consoles her. Kapitan Tiyago enters and announced in a woeful tone about Padre Damaso's order to break the engagement between Ibarra and Maria Clara, and instead making her marry with a young Spaniard named Alfonso Linares. Ibarra meanwhile talked to the governor-general to clear his name. He went to Maria Clara's place and proposed marriage. The rejoicing of the couple is interrupted as the Alferez arrests Ibarra for allegedly inciting a rebellion. Maria Clara is in great despair and prays to the Virgin Mary for help.


Scene 2 - The same room

In her bedroom Maria Clara is worried for Ibarra's fate. Padre Damaso tries to console her. Maria Clara said if she was not able to marry Ibarra, she would either choose death or become a nun. Padre Damaso discourages her from becoming a nun, but as the firm determination of Maria Clara became apparent to him, Padre Damaso leaves her, feeling abjectly defeated and wounded to the core as he resigns his will to the inescapable ways of God. Elias and Ibarra has just escaped from prison, and they visited Maria Clara through a window. They said their final goodbyes and Ibarra and Elias escapes through the window. 2 gunshots were heard at the end of the scene.


Scene 3 - Another part of the woods near an old graveyard

Sisa is seen wandering in the forest. She has already lost her mind and still hopelessly finding her lost children. Basilio, injured, enters and finds and calls her mother. Because of her insanity, she didn't notice him. Basilio attempts to chase her mother until he became very tired. Sisa found the exhausted Basilio, and she immediately recognized him. The shock and overflowing joy is too much for her heart and she finally expires. Elias, mortally wounded, enters. He instructs Basilio to build a pyre to burn his (Elias) body and her mother to ashes. He also instructed him to dig the riches and jewelry buried nearby to use it for his studies. Elias lamented that he wouldn't see the light of tomorrow. The opera ends with Basilio gathering firewood and burning the two corpses.


Sources

* De Leon, F. P. (1978). "Manila welcomes the opera". In ''Filipino heritage: the making of a nation'' (Vol. 9, pp. 2340–46). Lahing Pilipino Publishing. {{Portal bar, Opera 1957 operas Operas set in the Philippines Operas based on novels Operas Tagalog-language operas