On August 26, Instituto Cervantes, the Embassy of Spain, the University of Santo Tomas (UST), and Teatro de la Zarzuela will present Zarzuela-Sarswela, a concert featuring a selection of pieces from classic Spanish zarzuelas alongside works from Philippine sarswelas. The recital, the culmination of the zarzuela workshop led by Spanish pianist Ramón Grau, will take place at the Education Auditorium (4F Albertus Magnus Building), UST, at 5pm. Admission is free, and early registration is encouraged at https://forms.office.com/e/
This concert marks the grand finale of Zarzuela Viva, a month-long celebration of the shared cultural heritage between Spain and the Philippines, featuring weekly zarzuela screenings, an immersive workshop, and this closing recital.
The zarzuela, one of the most treasured art forms in the Spanish-speaking world, was also among the most popular cultural expressions in the Philippines for decades. As Alexandra Chua, Dean of the UST Conservatory of Music, observes: “In the Philippine context, the sarswela is not merely a borrowed tradition, but a powerful symbol of Filipino transcultural identity and creativity. Embedded within it are distinctly Filipino stories and narratives that reflect local experiences, struggles, and aspirations. Through the reimagining of inherited forms, the sarswela becomes a dynamic expression of Filipino agency and cultural voice.”
The festival opened on August 1 at Instituto Cervantes with Tiempo de Zarzuela by Cristina Otero Roth. On August 7,audiences enjoyed La del manojo de rosas by Pablo Sorozábal, staged by Teatro de la Zarzuela. Upcoming screenings includeEl barberillo de Lavapiés by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri (August 14) and El sobre verde by Jacinto Guerrero (August 28), both at 3:00 p.m. in the Central Laboratory Auditorium, UST.
Zarzuela Workshop
From August 18 to 22, Ramón Grau—principal pianist at Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela since 2016—will lead an intensive workshop at the UST Conservatory of Music for advanced music students. Grau has composed for films such as El Fantasma de la Sauna and Calcinación, and for the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, which will premiere his piano concerto Estigio in December 2025.
Grand Finale Concert
On August 26, at 5pm, Ramón Grau and the workshop participants will perform Zarzuela-Sarswela, featuring selections from El barberillo de Lavapiés and La del manojo de rosas, alongside iconic pieces from the Filipino sarswela tradition.
This concert brings to a close a cultural program that highlights the enduring legacy of the zarzuela—a genre that has left an indelible mark on the history of Philippine theater. In the words of writer Nick Joaquin: “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.”
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 more information about Zarzuela Viva, visit www.manila.cervantes.es or follow Instituto Cervantes on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
