Photo courtesy of MarBi Photography and Project Art, Inc. The bulk of my work in London has been mainly focused on the lower register and belt range of my musical theater voice for Miss Saigon, Lion King and Here Lies Love. Though trained as a soprano, Gia knew she had to get her classical voice back into shape. They are intertwined and inseparable. But now, for the past several months, he has been steeped in its lore how three princes embark on a quest for the fabled bird with the healing voice to cure their ailing father, the king. Armenia and decide to settle there, on the beautiful mountain. Genres. As the company celebrates its 28th anniversary and begins its 25th performance season, we look back to its beginnings through these keepsakes painstakingly put together in a scrapbook that first year by Ballet Manila pioneer and now co-artistic associate Eileen Lopez. Diwa de Leon is a composer, arranger and musician based in Maryland, United States. The first time Ballet Manila principal dancers Joshua Enciso and Jessica Pearl Dames portrayed the tragic young lovers from Shakespeares masterpiece was back in 2019. De Guzman, The music of Ibong Adarna is a reflection of the many inspirations Diwa has had in his musical life. A mystical bird known as the Adarna (Abigail Oliveiro) is at the heart of the story of Ibong Adarna. Tabor. It is based on the epic Ibong Adarna, with a twist and in a . But the king of all these animals, a swiftly soaring eagle (real name Olicornio), having compassion for his troubles, offered to take the prince to wherever he desired. Gardner, Fletcher. At the latter gathering, Gia smilingly recalls, My husband said it all he looked at me and said to the family: Gia is complete now she has food, family, and wine! referring to Lisa and I as we shared fine Chablis., The sisters have also indulged in a girls day out with their mom. They can talk up a storm whether on the phone or in person, discussing work and family life and exchanging notes about recent shows theyve seen. That is how I prepared for Adarna two months of rest and recreation, and then five months of adrenaline as I executed the ideas I collected into full-blown compositions, says Diwa who describes living a hermit-like existence while going through this process, leaving the studio only when necessary. It was the first time for the literary classic, a required reading in high school, to be transformed into a ballet. Though he has written music for films longer than this, he calls ballet a different beast. I work mostly as a film and TV composer in which music is mostly a supporting element that serves the vision of the script and the director. I really cannot ask for anything more.. Thanks to the Ibong Adarna (Joan Emery Sia), happiness reigns once more in Berbanya. Photo courtesy of MarBi Photography and Project Art, Inc. Gia's lyrical soprano from when she first started her voice lessons has now become more of a dramatic mezzo but her pure classical tones and training are still very much evident. Diwa is thankful that he was given the freedom to explore and create in Ibong Adarna. Asked if she would do anything different on the second weekend, Gia says no two shows anyway are really alike for her. 3.Assyria, Many of his piano works have become a staple part of the Philippine repertoire of today's young students, especially Mayon, Larawan, and Maligayang Bati. Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, admittedly a big fan of her younger sister, thought Gia would be perfect as the Singing Adarna when she was casting the production and she wasnt disappointed. Photo courtesy of MarBi Photography and Project Art, Inc. Prinsipe Pedro (Elpidio Magat) is the oldest among the three brothers and the first to go on the quest. The much awaited encounter between Prinsipe Juan (Anselmo Dictado) and the Adarna (Joan Emery Sia) finally happens. He also wrote several zarzuelas and kundimans. And [between] Ibong Adarna and Florante at Laura, Ibong Adarna has more of those qualitieswhich is really more of his style. His compositions include Bulaklaken, Theme and Variations for Band, Dance of the Nymphs Rondo, Florente at Laura (overture). It's one thing to learn the music via cyberspace, and another to actually have a one-on-one session with him directly. This Don Quixote run was special for another reason. Photo courtesy of MarBi Photography and Project Art, Inc. After managing to ward off Prinsipe Pedro and Prinsipe Diego, the Adarna (Abigail Oliveiro) is captured by Prinsipe Juan (Joshua Enciso). listed in the "New Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians." Photo courtesy of MarBi Photography and Project Art, Inc. Prinsipe Juan (Joshua Enciso) is known as kind and helpful. Tagalog Pictures, Inc. produced the film "Si Prinsipe Abante At Ang Lihim ng Ibong Adarna" in 1990 starring comedian Rene Requiestas as the lead Prinsipe Abante (English: forward), Paquito Diaz as Prinsipe Atras (English: retreat), Joaquin Fajardo as Prinsipe Urong-Sulong (synonymous to atras-abante; English: back and forth) and Monica Herrera as Prinsesa Luningning/the Ibong Adarna. Ibong Adarna tells the story of three princes of the mythical kingdom of Berbania. Although he has worked with BM in two previous projects, De Leon considers Ibong Adarna his most monumental solo ballet effort to date, for which he drew inspiration from a diverse range of musical influencesfrom Balinese gamelan, Ifugao gongs and Maguindanao melodic inspirations, to the works of film composers John Williams and Hans Zimmer, as well as renowned video game composer Nobuo Uematsu. So stakes me to the ground I cannot move. Don Diego undergoes the same hardships (but ventures for five months, two more than Don Pedro) and meets the same fate as his older brother. He's also quite academic which runs in the Macuja side of the family, the proud mom beams. A prolific composer, his works include concerti, sonatas, symphonies, symphonic poems, five operas in Philippine dialect, numerous band overtures, and more than 200 marches. [33], Ballet Manila's CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde described the show as "a modern ballet with neo-classical and classical styles that serve as the cornerstone of the dance vocabulary." a popular contemporary composer who also has classical compositions to his credit, such as Misa, Four Poems for Soprano and Piano, and Te Deum. Both sisters agree that their relationship has only strengthened through time and despite the distance that separates them. Mahirap maging corps sa kahit anong ballet. I am allowed to write in my own style, with my own set of rules and inspirations, and Geri encourages it even more. His compositional output includes A la Juventud Filipina, Bailes de Ayer, Caprice on a Folksong, Cello Sonata, Ibong Adarna, Kandingan, Malakas at Maganda, Overture, Okaka, Oriental Fantasy, Ibong Adarna, Piano Concerto Nos. Gia is especially glad that the kids have had a chance to bond with their cousins who dont get to see one another that often. That's what makes live theater interesting. Her husband, violinist Bob Atchison, and their kids Abigail and Jamie are also with her. Visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. ", known as the "Father of the Kundiman" and belongs to the "Triumvirate of Filipino Composers.". As a multi-awarded musician, he composed Minuet, Mindanao Sketches, Divertimento for Piano and Orchestra, Variations and Fugue, and Greetings based on Philippine folk music. A young man sets out on a dangerous quest for a magical bird with the power to heal any ailment. But no matter how many times shes done it, stepping on stage still brings jitters to Gia Macuja-Atchison. Nievera and Velasquez sung the soundtrack "Touched by Your Love" and "Nagmamahal", "Believe It" was performed by Velasquez and "Halakhak" by The Youth. English Tagalog. He also created the Buencamino Music Academy in 1930 where Nicanor Abelardo was one of his students. Even Gias kids who got to listen to it at home while mom was practicing, ended up already singing it. [5], According to professor Damiana Eugenio, the Ibong Adarna or The Adarna Bird epic reworks and combines themes from recognizable folktales of the international Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index, namely types ATU 551, "The Sons on a Quest for a Wonderful Remedy for their Father"; ATU 301, "The Three Stolen Princesses" (hero's descent into a lower world, pit or hole to rescue kidnapped princesses), and ATU 313, "The Magical Flight" (hero meets villain's daughter and falls in love with her; her father imposes tasks on the hero; hero and villain's daughter escape together at the end of the tale). Rather, I employ a compositional style that are regular tropes of fantasy music, such as music from Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter. The king, greatly impressed with the youth's tact and self-possession, chose to give him a series of tests both gigantic and impossible for ordinary mortals. The Ballet Manila production features two Adarnas one that dances (with Abigail Oliveiro and Katherine Barkman sharing the role) and another that sings as embodied by West End musical theater actress Gia Macuja-Atchison. [4] He is a founding member of the world music group Makiling. Its a legacy work, he enthuses. Gia had begun preparing for her role in June while she was still in England, her base for the past twenty years. She notes, Every show is an opportunity to discover new things about your character and new possibilities for your performance to grow. Photo courtesy of MarBi Photography and Project Art, Inc. In 1997, along with some high school friends, he formed a band, the Makiling Ensemble, which released three albums from 2000 to 2005, and composed the music for the film Pandanggo (2006). Caprice on a Folksong, Cello Sonata, Ibong Adarna, Kandingan, Malakas at Maganda, Overture, Okaka, Oriental Fantasy, Ibong Adarna, Piano Concerto Nos. They found Don Juan at Mt. The show has consistently reaped applause and praise, with one critic noting: The production amazed the audience with a never-ending upsurge of visual spectacle, energetic dances and an intense fight scene.. Its enchanted song revealed to the king that Don Pedro and Don Diego beat up Don Juan and that he was the true captor of the bird. Released in 1941, Ibong Adarna is a production of LVN Pictures owned by Narcisa Buencamino vda de Leon or Doa Sisang (1877-1966), a woman-entrepreneur who ventured into making films beyond the age of 60 yet made a tremendous impact on the history of the Not long after, wedding bells were rung in the palace; Diego married Princess Juana. [7], Last edited on 21 February 2022, at 06:33, "Chito Roo directs first Filipino full-length musical film", "10th Gawad Buhay: Aicelle Santos, Baron Geisler, 'Ang Pag-uusig,' 'Ibong Adarna' among big winners", "Two strings two worlds combine in Diwa de Leon", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diwa_de_Leon&oldid=1073145468, This page was last edited on 21 February 2022, at 06:33. The 2014 film starred Rocco Nacino as Prinsipe Sigasig, Joel Torre as Sultan Mabait, Angel Aquino as Sultana Mabunyi, Leo Martinez as Datu Maimbot, Benjie Paras as Sipsipayo, Ronnie Lazaro as Dulangkaw, Patricia Fernandez as Diwata, Lilia Cuntapay as Bruha, Gary Lising as Nuno ng Lipi, Miss Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman as Adarna and Philip "Kohol" Supnet as Higante. [36], [40] Project Gutenberg also has a version of the epic in its library. [30], Ballet Manila soloist Abigail Oliveiro took on the role of Ibong Adarna with Mark Sumaylo as Don Pedro, Romeo Peralta as Don Diego and Ballet Manila's Principal dancer Rudy de Dios as Don Juan. The kind-hearted Juan (Joshua Enciso, foreground) forgives his brothers as well, thus reuniting the family and leading to a celebration in the whole kingdom. Bringing the epic to life onstage are Ballet Manilas top danseurs Rudy de Dios, Romeo Peralta, Mark Sumaylo, Elpidio Magat, Rudolph Capongcol and Anselmo Dictado, alternating as the three princes in search of the elusive Adarna bird, portrayed by Abigail Oliveiro and Katherine Barkman. He also has to fill the forest it lives in with music, along with the kingdom that the princes inhabit. West End's Gia Macuja is singing 'Ibong Adarna' in original Ballet Manila production By: Levine Andro Lao Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:00 AM August 28, 2017 She has made her mark on London's West End, counting stellar turns in "The Lion King," "Miss Saigon," and 2016's "Here Lies Love." So to be able to correspond in an email interview was a rare opportunity to unravel the, Ballet Manilas Ibong Adarna tells the classic tale of devotion, betrayal and the healing power of love. They enjoyed the bird, they did not treat it as a pet, but rather like a person. Abelardo was one of his students Variations for Band, Dance of the Nymphs Rondo, at! 4 ] he is a composer, arranger and musician based in Maryland, United States fine,. A dangerous quest for a magical bird with the power to heal ibong adarna composer ailment, they did not treat as... ] Project Gutenberg also has to fill the forest it lives in with music, along with kingdom. 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