Spanish and Filipino Zarzuela Take Center Stage at UST

The Instituto Cervantes, the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas (UST), and Teatro de la Zarzuela will present Zarzuela>Sarswela on November 14, bringing together Spanish zarzuela and Filipino sarswela in a celebration of the two countries’ shared cultural heritage.

Now on its second year, the concert will culminate a five-day zarzuela workshop led by Spanish pianist and vocal coach Belén Castillo and Spanish soprano María Rodríguez from November 9 to 13.

The concert will be held at the Conservatory of Music of the University of Santo Tomas at 5:30 p.m. on November 14. Admission is free, with online registration required.

The program will feature selections from two landmark Spanish zarzuelas: El barberillo de Lavapiés (1874) by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri and La del manojo de rosas (1934) by Pablo Sorozábal. These will be presented alongside works from the Filipino sarswela tradition, including selections from Filipinas para los Filipinos by José Estella and Walang Sugat.

Zarzuela is a Spanish theatrical genre that combines music, singing, and spoken dialogue. Its influence in the Philippines helped shape the sarswela, which eventually developed into a distinctly Filipino theatrical form, incorporating local stories, social realities, and cultural aspirations.

Through the concert, the organizers seek to highlight not only the historical connection between Spanish zarzuela and Filipino sarswela, but also the evolution of the genre within the Philippines and its continuing contribution to the country’s performing arts.

Rodríguez, a Spanish soprano specializing in opera and zarzuela, has performed at major venues in Spain and abroad and collaborated with artists including Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. Her work in promoting zarzuela combines respect for the tradition with an approach aimed at making the genre accessible to new audiences.

Castillo, a Spanish pianist and vocal coach specializing in vocal accompaniment, is a piano professor at the Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid. She regularly collaborates with the Teatro Real and has participated in opera productions and recitals in Spain.

The November 14 concert will offer audiences an opportunity to experience how a Spanish theatrical tradition crossed borders and evolved into a Filipino art form with its own musical language, narratives, and cultural identity.

For more information about Instituto Cervantes de Manila’s cultural programs, visit manila.cervantes.es or follow Instituto Cervantes de Manila on Facebook.