𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝟮𝟱 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀

Manila, Philippines - May 30, 2026 -

As part of its milestone 25th Anniversary Season—launched in November 2025 and culminating in November 2026— the Philippine Opera Company (POC) proudly presents a special production of 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 by Terrence McNally, winner of the Tony Award for Best Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play, and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Play.

Opening on May 15, the production will run for the entire month of May at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati with Friday and Saturday evening performances and weekend matinees.

Starring as the legendary opera diva Maria Callas is the Philippines’ First Lady of Theater, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. The production is directed by Jaime del Mundo.

The Philippine Opera Company last staged 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 in 2010. Now, as it marks 25 years of artistic excellence, POC returns to this towering theatrical masterpiece—an unflinching exploration of greatness, sacrifice, and the price of immortality in art. This anniversary revival is both a tribute to the legends who shaped the operatic world and a bold reminder that true artistry demands courage, discipline, and soul.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 16 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀?

POC’s Artistic Director, Karla Gutierrez, shares:

“As we celebrate 25 years of the Philippine Opera Company, we felt it was important to revisit a work that speaks directly about legacy. 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 reminds us that artistry is not about applause alone—it is about discipline, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of truth. In an age of immediacy, Maria Callas challenges us to slow down and demand excellence of ourselves and of our craft. This is the perfect piece to anchor our anniversary season because it reflects exactly what POC has stood for over the last 25 years.”

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆:

Set during a series of public master classes at Juilliard in the 1970s, 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 offers an intimate and riveting portrait of Maria Callas at the height of her myth and legacy. As she works with young opera singers, Callas relives the triumphs and heartbreaks of her storied career—her artistic struggles, her turbulent love life, and the sacrifices demanded by greatness.

By turns funny, sharp, and deeply moving, the play reveals the woman behind the legend: vulnerable yet formidable, demanding yet inspiring. Through her exacting standards and brutally honest critiques, Callas challenges her students—and herself—to confront the true cost of art.