La Musique du Coeur: Dazzling!

MANILA, Philippines - Magic has been cast all over the city. As the blue and yellow tent stood majestically against the glimmering Manila skyline, people come in droves to watch the greatest and most spectacular show on Earth.

Varekai by Cirque du Soleil, which will run until July 24, 2011 in Manila, continues to dazzle spectators with amazing stunts and breathtaking aerobatics. Indeed, the cast and crew of Varekai by Cirque du Soleil won the hearts of the Filipinos.

As a way of giving back, the musicians of Cirque du Soleil Vuk Krakovic and Roger Hewett in partnership with Manila Hotel will be holding a benefit concert for the Sun For All Children, a charitable foundation for the street children of Malate. The concert, dubbed as La Musique du Coeur (which means music from the heart) will be held on July 19, 8 p.m., at the Grand Lobby of the Manila Hotel. Cocktails will start at 5:30 p.m.

Krakovic on violin and Hewett on piano will be playing classical pieces by Beethoven, Sarasate, John Williams, Vivaldi and more with the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory Of Music String Ensemble. Ticket is priced at P500 consumable of ala carte menu. For inquiries and ticket reservations, call 527-0011 local 1108.

Vuk Krakovic was born in Belgrade, Serbia. He started playing the violin at the age of four and studied at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

He has won numerous international awards including the second prize for the Violin and Piano Competition of the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe and has performed at the Royal Naval College with M. Rostropovich and at the Royal Albert Hall among others. Also a trained classical composer, Krakovic wrote and performed the music of Resonance, a short film produced in collaboration with BBC Wales and Royal College of Art’s Professor Len Massey and was nominated in Cardiff’s Short Film Festival for Best Soundtrack.

He has been working with Varekai by Cirque du Soleil since 2004 touring over 70 cities around the world.

Born in Norwich England, classically trained pianist Roger Hewett has been playing since the age of six. He started to play professionally at 16 and has since performed internationally from high profile special events to touring as part of Cirque du Soleil.

As composer, orchestrator and musical director, Roger has worked on 24 film and television projects. Among his works was the Paramount hit Double Jeopardy for which he orchestrated the music for the 83-piece orchestra and performing on the soundtrack. He has also written for numerous Canadian Arts awards galas and for Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her two recent Royal visits in Canada.