Tony-winning 'Master Class' puts Maria Callas on Manila stage this May

The Philippine Opera Company (POC) will close its current season—which kicked off in November 2025—with a loud, dramatic bang.

This May, the company mounts Terrence McNally’s Tony-winning juggernaut, Master Class, as the grand finale of its 25th anniversary.

Theater royalty Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo steps into the formidable shoes of Maria Callas, the icon known as "La Divina." Callas possessed a voice like a force of nature and a private life that served as a blueprint for tabloid tragedy. Directed by Jaime del Mundo, this production aims to prove that opera remains the most sharp-edged game in town.

The diva’s dictum

The play drops us into a rehearsal hall at Juilliard in the early '70s. A fading Callas trades the world’s great stages for a lectern, but do not expect a polite syllabus.

Callas treats her students as psychological springboards, spiraling into "interior monologues" that revisit her glory days at La Scala—the 18th-century Milanese cathedral of opera that acts as the ultimate litmus test for any serious vocalist. Between technical critiques, she relives her triumphs in Italy and her crushing public rejection by billionaire Aristotle Onassis.

The ensemble tasked to survive her scrutiny includes Alexandra Bernas as the scrutinized Sophie de Palma, Arman Ferrer as the bravado-heavy tenor Tony Candolino, and Angeli Benipayo as Sharon Graham, the student brave enough to fire back. They receive support from Louie Angelo Ocaas the accompanist Manny Weinstock and Nelsito Gomez as the stagehand.

Not a biography

McNally—the late "Bard of American Theater"—drew from the 23 actual sessions Callas held at Juilliard. But the play is a fictionalized work rather than a strict biography. He heightened aspects of her “tigress” persona for dramatic effect.

Director Jaime del Mundo addressed this distinction at a press conference at Opera Haus, noting the heart of the play lies in its obsession with the craft.

“What Master Class is really about, because it's not a documentary. Don't get the impression that it's a documentary. It's not,” said Del Mundo at a press conference on 21 April at Opera Haus.

“Master Class is about love….about passion. Master Class is about the desire to communicate to the younger generation of singers from the experience of the older generation of singers, beliefs. And what makes art work is trying to get to the younger generation and say art is beautiful, art is necessary,” he added.

The collaboration

The friction on stage matches the creative sparring behind the scenes. Lauchengco-Yulo, a powerhouse director herself, views her work with del Mundo as a sophisticated tug-of-war where the best idea wins the room.

“When I work with Jaime, there are moments when I’ll say, ‘No, that doesn’t work for me. Can I try this instead? This blocking doesn’t work—let’s try it this way.’ I guess that’s what happens when you have two directors together. But we have a very high respect for each other.”

“When we can’t agree, it becomes, ‘Okay, you do that part, and then you do my thing.’ That’s our joke. But yes, I was able to change a lot, and he also convinced me about a lot. In the end, the goal is to come up with the best show possible and the best approach. So it’s a collaboration,” said Lauchengco-Yulo

25 years of POC

The company traces its roots back to 1999, when award-winning soprano and artistic director Karla Patricia T. Gutierrez founded the outfit as a sanctuary for the country’s classical voices.

Fast forward a quarter-century, and the POC stands as the Philippines' sole professional powerhouse consistently pitching opera as a living, breathing necessity rather than a museum piece. This season finale serves as a major flex of that founding mission.

“For a quarter of a century, we have remained committed to our mission. To bring opera and classical performance closer to the Filipino people, and to nurture a deeper appreciation for this art form across generations. But beyond celebrating a milestone, we also find ourselves reflecting on the world we live in today,” said Gutierrez.

“We are proud to bring together a remarkable team of artists who have poured their passion and dedication into this production... We also continue our commitment to education and access, ensuring that students, teachers, and new audiences can experience productions like this and carry these stories forward.”

Master Class will premiere on 15 May at the CPR Auditorium, RCBC Plaza. Tickets are now available; follow POC for details.