“Something magical happens when artists come together!” Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s creative director, expressed her excitement about the upcoming world premiere of Florante at Laura. This outstanding production, following the success of Ballet Manila’s Ibong Adarna, is set to be staged at the Aliw Theater on October 12, 2024, at 8 PM, and on October 13 and 19, 2024, at 5 PM. Florante at Laura will gather some of the country’s most esteemed creatives in music, literature, ballet, and stage production.
A Collaboration of Masters in Their Craft
“Florante at Laura was a project that was going to be Gerardo Francisco’s next epic adventure. This was planned way before the pandemic happened,” Lisa recalled. Gerardo, a longtime principal dancer and co-artistic associate of Ballet Manila, previously choreographed the award-winning Ibong Adarna. He collaborates with the exemplary British choreographer Martin Lawrance, known for his innovative retelling of Romeo and Juliet in a Filipino setting.
In discussing their collaboration, Gerardo emphasized the importance of clear communication and thorough discussions, stating, “Clear communication, thorough discussions, and mutual support were crucial in keeping us on track.” Martin echoed this sentiment, noting, “We just seem to click and bounce ideas off of each other. It has so far been a very fruitful collaboration. Communication has been the key!”
The collaboration took a significant step forward when Lisa invited renowned writer and balagtasan expert Professor Michael Coroza as a guest on her show, Art 2 Art. During this engagement, she asked him to watch Ibong Adarna. Lisa subsequently invited Michael to collaborate with Gerardo and Martin to create the libretto for Florante at Laura.
The next crucial step was finding a composer. Lisa envisioned someone capable of crafting original compositions reminiscent of a Filipino Tchaikovsky—sweeping, dramatic, powerful, and romantic. She was thrilled when National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab accepted her invitation. Recognized as a pillar of Original Pilipino Music (OPM), Ryan Cayabyab was named National Artist for Music in 2018 and boasts an extensive body of work encompassing orchestras, full-length musical productions, television, and commercials. “It had been quite some time since I wrote a large musical work,” he shared, showcasing his eagerness for this project.
Despite his extensive experience as a composer and musician, Ryan expressed excitement about collaborating with fellow creatives. He stated, “Most important before I start creating music is the mutual understanding among the other creatives and the producer regarding style and medium of music.” Adding another layer to the production, the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) will breathe life into Ryan’s original compositions under the baton of his son, Toma Cayabyab. “Everything is a surprise and wonder for me. I challenged myself into accepting this landmark ballet production, and I hope that it becomes an important legacy for all of us involved in it,” Ryan shared.
An Epic Production with Mesmerizing Visuals
Florante at Laura, a literary masterpiece by Filipino poet Francisco ‘Balagtas’ Baltasar, published in 1838, narrates the tale of Florante, a duke who is captured and enslaved by the Turks. With the help of Aladin, he escapes his captors to return to his homeland, Albania, to confront the usurper Count Adolfo, seek redemption, and reunite with his beloved Laura.
To visually translate the universal themes of love, betrayal, and friendship, Ballet Manila enlisted the expertise of key players with decades of experience in local and international productions. Set designer Mio Infante shared that his designs represent more than just the physical settings of the story. “This epic ballet includes a diverse set of locations, which not only serve as physical spaces but also symbolize the internal and external conflicts of the characters, as well as broader themes of love, war, loyalty, and betrayal.”
Complementing Mio’s designs are the stunning costumes from Make It Happen, led by Otto Hernandez and Therese Arroyo Hernandez. They noted, “Costumes play a crucial role in conveying the story and message of a production. It can contribute to the overall visual aesthetics, help define characters, evoke emotions, and enhance the audience’s understanding of the narrative.”
Lighting director John Batalla highlighted the importance of utilizing a distinct lighting color palette to differentiate the various locales of Florante at Laura. He emphasized that “Mood is certainly a major part of the themes that lighting has to tackle in a production such as this in order to transport the audiences to a different time and far-away places.”
Expect More from Ballet Manila
As one of the country’s leading dance companies, Ballet Manila is renowned for its commitment to excellence and artistry. While it has produced many award-winning shows, audiences can look forward to more world-class performances under Lisa’s leadership.
For now, Lisa hopes the audience will immerse themselves in the magical experience of Florante at Laura. “That’s why we work so hard every day—to create art that people will want to watch again and again.”
All performances will take place at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City. For tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. To learn more about Ballet Manila and its upcoming shows, visit www.balletmanila.com.ph.
