El Filibusterismo (opera)
El Filibusterismo ("Subversion)" is an opera in 3 acts by Felipe Padilla de León with libretto by Anthony Morli. The opera was closely based on a novel by José Rizal by the same name. It is the sequel to "Noli me Tangere", another novel by Rizal which was also adapted as an opera by the same composer. History. The libretto by Antony Morli was the first prize winner for a libretto contest sponsored by the Musical Promotional Foundation of the Philippines held in 1966. The work was premiered on November 3, 1970 at the CCP Main Theater  with the composer conducting the CCP Philharmonic Orchestra. Jovita Fuentes was the chairman and producer of the opera, Jaime V. Arsenio the stage director, and Teresita Agana-Santos the chorus director. Music. The music of "El Fili" had a more intense and contemporary style, compared to de Leon's "Noli" written about a decade and a half earlier. The composer found himself more at liberty to make the music more reflective of the novel's intentions. The romantic themes sung by Crisostomo Ibarra in "Noli" were reworked in "El Fili" to be darker and more violent sung by Simoun. Several  Folk songs and dances were also included in the score like the "balitaw, kundiman," and the "Kumintang" but transformed and given in a more contemporary and modern way.