For the Filipino audience, opera may not be the first genre that comes to mind when they think of theater. Drama, musical and even the contemporary original jukebox musicals based on OPM songs are arguably more popular. But as Giocamo Puccini's monumental opera 'Turandot' opens next weekend at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, its project organizers hope the local audience will give this classical genre a try.

Turandot will be staged at the CCP Main Theatre with a gala on December 9 and a matinee on Decem-ber 11. It is a project by presenters CCP, Filipinas Opera Society Foundation Inc., and Rustan Group of Companies, with the Italian Embassy as major sponsor.