Opera originated in Italy in the 16th century and later spread throughout Europe. It combines music, singing, and theatrical performance to tell a dramatic story. In the Philippines, foreign performers initially dominated the theater scene in the 19th century. The first original Philippine opera, Noli Me Tangere, premiered in 1957 and was composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon. Another one of his operas, El Filibusterismo, was first staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1970.