Instituto Cervantes, the Embassy of Spain, and the University of Santo Tomas invite Manila to Zarzuela Viva, a vibrant month-long cultural program running August 1–28 that celebrates the shared zarzuela heritage of Spain and the Philippines. Expect weekly screenings, an immersive masterclass-style workshop, and a Zarzuela–Sarswela recital staged across Instituto Cervantes (Intramuros) and the University of Santo Tomas.
Zarzuela — one of the Spanish-speaking world’s most beloved musical-theater forms — has long held a special place in Philippine theatrical history. As Nick Joaquin put it, “Certainly, in no other art form, whether in English, Spanish, or Tagalog, has the Filipino shown himself so much at home; and in no other, since then, has he been able to establish such close rapport with the people.”
Program highlights
Weekly screenings (all at 3:00 p.m.)
- Aug 1 — Tiempo de Zarzuela (documentary by Cristina Otero Roth) — Instituto Cervantes (Intramuros)
- Aug 7 — La del manojo de rosas (Teatro de la Zarzuela production; Pablo Sorozábal) — Instituto Cervantes (Intramuros)
- Aug 14 — El barberillo de Lavapiés (Alfredo Sanzol production; Francisco Asenjo Barbieri) — UST, Central Laboratory Auditorium
- Aug 28 — El sobre verde (Jacinto Guerrero) — UST, Central Laboratory Auditorium
Zarzuela Workshop (the event’s centerpiece)
- August 18–21 — a four-day intensive workshop led by Spanish pianist Ramón Grau (Teatro de la Zarzuela, Madrid), held at the Conservatory of Music, UST. The workshop is aimed at advanced music students. Interested participants should reserve a slot by submitting their CV to cultmni@cervantes.es.
Zarzuela–Sarswela Recital
- Aug 26 — “Zarzuela-Sarswela,” featuring Ramón Grau and workshop participants performing selections from El barberillo de Lavapiés and La del manojo de rosas, together with works from Philippine sarswelas. Venue: Education Auditorium (4F, Albertus Magnus Building), UST. Open to the public — attendees are encouraged to register early: https://forms.office.com/e/gqQYWUHzSb
Partners and where to get info
Zarzuela Viva is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID, the Conservatory of Music of UST, Teatro de la Zarzuela, and the Intramuros Administration.
For full details and updates, visit www.manila.cervantes.es or follow Instituto Cervantes Manila on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila/.
