Sylvia La Torre as Micaela in ‘Carmen’

In 1958, Carmen in Tagalog was restaged at the Far Eastern University Auditorium, then the venue of many cultural shows. It was first presented in 1956 to critical acclaim, which ‘mandated’ an encore, a repeat after two years.

The 1956 and 1958 versions were pretty much the same. The same ‘Filipinized’ sets (Plaza Binondo, Santa Ana tavern, bullfight arena in Ermita, wild spot near Tagaytay Ridge). Musical direction by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Herbert Zipper.

Conching Rosal played Carmen and Don David was Don Jose.

...with Don David (Don Jose) and Conching Rosal (Carmen)...in a formal portrait clad in Maria Clara(right)

But instead of Salvacion Oppus Yniguez as Micaela, her student at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, Sylvia La Torre, took over her role. Mrs. Yniguez could not play Micaela as she was scheduled to travel with her husband, a congressman.

In the opera, Micaela is the childhood sweetheart of Don Jose, a corporal in the Guardia Civil. His love for Micaela is overshadowed by his passion for Carmen, a fiery and earthy cigaret girl.

Sylvia’s highlight as Micaela is her attempt to lure back Don Jose... in vain as he was madly in love with the ‘demonic’ Carmen.

Sylvia and her family are longtime residents of California. She still gets in touch with your columnist, having presented her in several Manila concerts. — RKC