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Greetings by Chief Advisor 2. Greetings by Art Director 3. Outline of the Project 4. Schedule of Performance 5. Profile of the Composer 6. Profile of the Libretto |
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| Organized by : Executive Committee of Japan-Philippine Joint Opera Project The Blessed Lord - Ukon Takayama Presented by : Tokyo Opera Association & Santo Tomas University |
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Greetings by
Chief Advisor
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| Greetings | I am pleased to inform you that the year 2003
is the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigrants to the Philippines. The
Philippine embassy in Japan and the Japanese embassy in Manila are planning
to support various memorial events on this occasion. In February 2003, the Japanese embassy in Manila will hold an annual "Philippine-Japan Friendship Festival" in Manila. As a part of this activity, the Japanese embassy in Manila supports the Japan-Philippine joint opera "The Blessed Lord - Ukon Takayama", which describes the eventful life of Christian Load Ukon Takayama and his exile to Manila under the "Christian ban order." His life is a symbol of long friendship between Japan and the Philippines. Tokyo Opera Association and Santo Tomas University already have started preparations. The opera will be performed in Manila as well as in several parts in Japan. It should be noted that next year also coincides with the 450th anniversary of the birth of Ukon Takayama. I participate as a chief advisor in the executive committee of this Japan-Philippine joint opera and back up the project together with people who wish to strengthen friendship between Japan and the Philippines. Please support this meaningful project. Sincerely Yours, |
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| Domingo L. Siazon Chief Advisor of the Executive Committee of Japan-Philippine Joint Opera Project "The Blessed Lord - Ukon Takayama" & Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, Tokyo |
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Greetings by
Art Director
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| Greetings | It is my pleasure to announce that we celebrated
the 25th anniversary of the founding of Tokyo Opera Association last year.
"Opera for international cultural exchange" has been our motto
since inception. One of the examples of this effort born fruits is "Forgotten
Boys---Tensho Youth Envoys to Europe", which was performed in Europe
in corroboration with European opera singers. Japan-China joint opera
"Country of Horal---Tales of Jofuku" is another example; together
with the National Chinese Opera Musical Institute, we are performing the
piece in Japan and China. The known history of exchanges between Japan and the Philippines goes back to at least over five hundred years ago, which has been colored by various historical events. The most tragic of these may be the World War II. The experience has cast dark shadow over the history of Japan-Philippine relations, which has masked much of other friendly relationships. Actually, there exist beautiful and heartwarming stories between the two countries, such as the tale of Lord Takayama. Incidentally, my father was born in the Philippines as a son of Japanese immigrants. He got married to a Philippine girl, that is, my Mother, who worked for the press section of the Japanese army during the World War II. Raised with listening from my parents their hardships, my future dream was to be a diplomat and contribute to restore friendly relationship between Japan and the Philippines. Now, I have become a musician and play a roll of a private diplomat---I am very glad to be able to work for strengthening friendship between the two countries. Over 400 hundreds ago, Japan were in War time and General Hideyoshi Toyotomi, after unified the nation of Japan with military power, attempted to advance to Korea and China. There lived a Christian Lord named Ukon Takayama during that period. He decided to discard the position as a Feudal Lord and chose to be exiled to Manila basing on his belief as a Christian. Although Ukon could have chosen another way---to join the battle to retain his territories and power, he refused to take sword because he knew too well that military power solves nothing. He chose to live a life as a Christian and obey the teachings of Jesus Christ instead. Today, nations around world are trying to expand their military forces. Asian countries are no exceptions. Under this circumstance, I thought it is very important now to trace how Ukon Takayama lived his life and think its meaning. Japan-Philippine joint Opera "Ukon Takayama" was born in this context. Without doubt it is supports and cooperation of many people that made it possible to start the preparations of this big project. I wish you would share our views towards Japan-Philippine relationship and world peace. Let's walk together with the hope for even better Japan-Philippine friendship and creation of peaceful world. Sincerely Yours, |
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| Edward Ishita Production Manager for Japan-Philippine Joint Opera Project "The Blessed Lord-Ukon Takayama” & Art Director at Tokyo Opera Association |
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Outline of the
Project
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| Purpose of the Project |
To contribute to Japan-Philippine friendship through creating an opera and playing it in the two countries as a joint effort of Japan and Philippine people. Also to contribute to world peace by drawing the life of Ukon Takayama who refused military power. | |
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| Story |
<Act 1---On board to
Manila> |
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| Libretto: Jiao Tauzin
(Art Director at Tokyo Opera Association) Composer: Manuel Perez Maramba (Professor at Santo Tomas) Actors: 15 from Tokyo Opera Association and 35 from Santo Tomas University to be selected through auditions. In addition to the above members, 30 singers, 10 actors as well as 10 other stuff are to participate in the opera. Mixed chorus and Kids chorus will join at each local stage. Local tunes of Japan and the Philippines 400-500 years ago are used at many different parts, while classical music as the world universal language forms the backbone. Basic language is English, with Japanese, Tagalong, and Spanish partially used. * As for performance in Japan, Japanese is used as a basic language. |
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| University
of Santo Tomas University of Santo Tomas boasts the longest history as a university not only in the Philippines but also in Asia. It is very famous in and out of the Philippines with total students of 30,000. |
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Schedule of
Performance
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| Performance in Japan |
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| Performance in Philippine |
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Profile of the
Composer
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| Manuel Perez Maramba | Maramba is one of the leading musical figures
in the Philippines today and one of the most important musicians who emerged
during the second half of the 20th century. After finishing his Bachelor
of Music degree in Piano at the University of Sto. Tomas Conservatory
of Music, he did further studies at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns
Hopkins University, obtaining his Master of Music degree at the age of
19. His artistry developed and took form in all of the western world's most formidable musical institutions, namely; the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University where he received his Master of Music in Piano, Artist Diploma in Piano, Bachelor of Music in Composition and Teacher's Certificate in Theory; Yale University's School of Music for his Master of Musical Arts in Performance; the Kirchenmusikschule in Regensburg, Germany where he studied sacred music; and the Hochschule fur Musik in Vienna, Austria where the studied piano, organ and harpsichord. His roster of mentors, who are among the 20th century's most important pedagogues, includes; Henry Cowell, Nicolai Slonimsky and Henry Brant(Theory and Composition); Isolde Ahlgrimn and Ralph Kirkpatrick (Harpsichord); Clarence Snyder, Anton Heiler and Prof. Raduleseu (Organ); Julio Esteban Anguita, Erno Balogh and Daniel Ericourt(Piano); Prof. Gillesberger and Prof. Ratzinger(Conducting). Until now, he is still one of the most exciting and highly regarded composers of this country. Prior to Lord Takayama Ukon, he already composed two operas, Aba! Sto. Nino and La Naval. His other major compositions are: the music for Awakening which was commissioned by Ballet Philippines and music for Philippine Ballet Theater's production of Seven Mansions; 3 masses (Papal Mass for World Youth Day 1995, Mass in Honor of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Mass in Honor of the Sto. Nino); 3 cantatas (St. Lorenzo Ruiz, St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, and 3 Psalms); a hymn in honor of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and the official hymn of the 1996 National Eucharistic Congress; a sarzuela entitled Ang Sarswela sa San Salvador; and 3 orchestral works (Pugad Lawin, The Virgin of Naval, and Transfiguration). Manuel Maramba is Benediction monk of the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat and the director of Paul VI Institute of Liturgy in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon, Philippines. He is also a faculty member at the University of Sto. Tomas Conservatory of Music, St. Scholastica's College and Sta. Isabel College where he teaches Theory, Composition and Piano. |
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Profile of Libretto
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| Edward Ishita |
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