The Italian Embassy has broadened access to the "Gianni Schicchi in Tondo" by transforming the performance into a film, following its successful debut in Tondo.

Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente spearheaded the initiative, using footage captured by The Manila Times TV crew. With support from AyalaLand and Ayala Cinema, the movie was screened twice at the Italian Food Festival in Ayala Triangle Gardens on May 25, and it will be shown in a commercial theater on June 7.

The production on the first-ever fully staged opera performance in Tondo on March 25 featured the Manila Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Marlon Chen. It was part of the festival "The Embassy of Italy Meets the Youth of Tondo," organized by the Embassy of Italy in cooperation with the Canossa-Tondo Children's Foundation. The event showcased Giacomo Puccini's one-act comic opera "Gianni Schicchi," performed in the San Pablo Apostol Parish playground.

The opera, featuring 15 singers led by baritone Byeong-In Park and a 50-piece orchestra, captivated over 500 attendees, mostly young members of the Tondo community. The performance was delivered in Italian, with occasional breaks to explain the plot in Tagalog, enhancing its educational value.

The original event was a remarkable success but limited to the local community and select guests. By creating a film version, Ambassador Clemente aimed to reach a wider audience. The screenings at Ayala Triangle Gardens allowed more people to experience the opera in an informal setting, helping to demystify the genre often perceived as elitist and complex. The "Gianni Schicchi in Tondo" film demonstrates that opera can be accessible and enjoyable to contemporary audiences.

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