Spanish and Filipino zarzuela traditions take center stage at UST
The celebration of shared musical heritage features selections from beloved stage works, capping a five-day workshop led by Spanish artists María Rodríguez and Belén Castillo.
The musical traditions of Spain and the Philippines take center stage as Instituto Cervantes, the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas (UST), and Teatro de la Zarzuela present the second edition of Zarzuela>Sarswela on 14 November at 5:30 p.m. at the UST Conservatory of Music.
The concert marks the culmination of a five-day zarzuela workshop led by Spanish pianist Belén Castillo and soprano María Rodríguez from 9 to 13 November. Admission is free, but online registration is required at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/gwvtzT5AY1.
The program features 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 pieces from Filipinas para los Filipinos by José Estella and Walang Sugat.
SPANISH soprano María Rodríguez shares her expertise in opera and zarzuela at the ‘Zarzuela>Sarswela’ workshop at UST.
Combining music, singing, and spoken dialogue, zarzuela has long held a significant place in Spain’s cultural heritage. Its influence in the Philippines helped shape the sarswela, which developed its own musical language and narratives, reflecting local stories, social realities, and aspirations. The concert celebrates these historical connections and the sarswela’s enduring contribution to Philippine performing arts and cultural identity.
Rodríguez specializes in opera and zarzuela and is known for her expressive stage presence and versatility. She has performed at major venues in Spain and abroad, collaborating with artists such as Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. In promoting zarzuela, she combines respect for tradition with a fresh, accessible approach that introduces the genre to new audiences.
Castillo is a pianist and vocal coach specializing in vocal accompaniment. A piano professor at the Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid, she regularly collaborates with Teatro Real and has participated in numerous opera productions and recitals across Spain.