‘Florante at Laura’ Full-Length Ballet Set to Premiere this October

‘Florante at Laura’ Full-Length Ballet Set to Premiere this October

“It always feels so good to be the first. I am so proud that Ballet Manila is making Philippine ballet history by being the first company to create the very first full-length ballet to the story of the epic poem of Francisco Balagtas’ Florante at Laura,” shares Ballet Manila’s CEO and Creative Director Lisa Macuja Elizalde. Florante at Laura will be staged on October 12, 8PM and on October 13 and 19, 5PM at the Aliw Theater.

Written and published in 1838, Florante at Laura follows the story of Florante, a duke who was held captive and enslaved by the Turks. But with the help of Aladin, he managed to escape from his captors to return to his country, Albania, to face off the usurper Count Adolfo, seek redemption, and reunite with his beloved Laura.

The idea to produce the ballet came shortly after staging Gerardo Francisco’s Ibong Adarna, but the devastating fire and the pandemic delayed the project.

Francisco returns as choreographer, along with British choreographer Martin Lawrance, who previously created a Filipino retelling of Romeo and Juliet.

“For the first time, an original full-length ballet is in the hands of not just one, but two choreographers– Gerardo Fransicco Jr., who has created the first act, the story of Florante at Laura, and Martin Lawrance, who has created the second act, the story of Aladin and Flerida, with both of them collaborating to finish both stories in a compelling third act finale”, says Macuja Elizalde.

The original music is composed by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, who agreed to join the project immediately when asked. “Walang kaabog-abog, oo agad kasi nangongolekta ako ng mga Filipino works na gagawin kasi 70 na ako,” shares Cayabyab. “Mga heritage works na iyan. Very important sa akin iyan. It’s a heavy work for me, but I find it very challenging and I said, ‘Sure, as long as I have an orchestra.’, because dream ko iyun— sumulat ng isang malaking work for an orchestra.”

Macuja Elizalde adds, “In Mr. C’s own words, you are going to be treated to a Filipino version of Tchaikovsky; dramatic, sweeping, powerful, and memorable melodies that will haunt you long after the curtains come down.” This is Cayabyab’s second project with Ballet Manila, following his work on the one-act ballet Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin, the last choreographic work of Tony Fabella before he passed away.

The performances will be accompanied by the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, conducted by Cayabyab’s son Toma Cayabyab, with a whopping 60-piece ensemble for every performance.

“We started with a 30-piece orchestra, kaya lang sabi namin baka masyadong maliit iyun, says Mickey Muñoz, representing the orchestra. Nag-increase kami to 40, 45, I think we agreed on 47, but when we heard the music of Mr. C, sobrang lush, sobrang grand, so we decided gifting more musicians. Now it’s a 60-piece orchestra that you will hear for all the three shows.” The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth is composed of musicians who are 14 to 23 years old.

“It’s an honor for us. It’s a legacy that Mr. C is gifting us with, adds Muñoz. “We’re aiming for a professional audio recording of Florante at Laura which Lisa and Ballet Manila can use for future generations. Kahit wala na kami, iyun iyung legacy na maiiwan namin lahat sa lahat ng mga Pilipino at sa buong mundo.”

The company is also working with Dr. Michael Coroza, a renowned Balagtas expert, multi-awarded poet, essayist, and literary translator, and a full-time professor at the Ateneo de Manila University.

“I think the biggest challenge was creating the libretto and making it understandable”, says Majuca Elizalde. “It’s such an epic poem. There are 15 battles, and we cannot show 15 battles in a ballet. We really had to trim down the libretto and make it into a 3-act ballet that is not so long but everything that is essential to the story is told and the audiences will understand what is going on.”

Also in the creative team are Mio Infante (set design), ​​Make It Happen, led by Otto Hernandez and Therese Arroyo Hernandez (costume design), and John Batalla (lighting design).

The cast features Joshua Enciso as Florante, Abigail Oliveiro as Laura, Noah Esplana as Aladin, Stephanie Santiago as Flerida, Mark Sumaylo as Sultan Ali Adab, and Anselmo Dictado as Menandro,

Joining them are John Ralp Balagot, Rafael Perez, Jos David Andes, Jos Daniel Andes, Rodney Catubay, John Stanley Alamer, Juan Angelo De Leon as the Albanian Male Soldiers, and Jasmine Pia Dames, Shaira May Comeros, Shamira Drapete, and Jessa Balote as the Albanian Female Soldiers.

Tickets are priced at P3090, P2060, and P1030, which are available to purchase through Ticketworld. You can watch the cast perform four excerpts from the show in the video below.