A fascinating Le Corsaire/Spectacular Malasimbo fete/MSO’s ‘Rush Hour Concerts’

The Philippine Ballet Theater seems the first local dance group to present Le Corsaire. It had trepidations of doing so owing to budget constraints. But through the brave efforts of PBT’s committee, particularly of its president Cha-Cha Camacho, chairman Chingbee Kalaw and co-chairman Sylvia Lichauco, PBT staged the ballet at the CCP main theater four times.

Like most classic ballets, Le Corsaire has its goodly share of solos, duos and ensemble dances. The excellent training by Bolshoi Ballet’s Anatoly Panasyukov was obvious, the dancers having attained a very high level of proficiency, with many soloists performing brilliantly.

The pas de trois of the Odalisques interpreted by Joni Celeste, Bianca Trocino and Lobreza Pimentel, and the Flower Dance in Act I, the dream sequence and the pas de trois by Medora, Conrad and Ali (Matthew Davo) in Act II were marked by fluidity, grace and refinement. Pairs moved with infectious charm and spirit, and in the series of pas de deux, the danseurs gave firm, strong support. The pirates in Act II displayed virile, brisk, bounding energy, their turns cohesive even at the fastest clip.

Because the soloists performed dual roles, as announced in the printed program, it was difficult to identify them correctly, except for Veronica Ylagan as Medora and Lemuel Capa as Conrad, Joanna Galeste as Gulnare, Medora’s friend, Mark Pineda, as Birbanto.

In any case, the female soloists' controlled technique showed in the swiftest multiple turns, fouettés, and in admirable extensions. The danseurs likewise exhibited technical control in tours a la seconde, bravura leaps with clean finish and landing. In Act II, the danseur in green costume (capa?), to my mind, was the most skilled among the men, leaving the audience in breathless excitement.

Elegance, lightness, lyricism were conveyed by the ballerina soloists, and utmost dexterity in multiple pirouettes, Ylagan doing a startling 28 fouettés in Act II!

The production, on a grand scale, had Miguel Faustmann’s fantastic set designs creating an unpredictable Mother Nature, with ominously dark clouds gathering overhead, a cruel sea, the splendor of a palace, an exquisite dreamland.

A seasoned actor-director, Faustmann was delightfully amusing as Seid Pasha in search of an appealing slave girl. His miming was eloquent indeed, and his dancing capers, a big surprise.

The elegant, colorful costumes of Julie Borromeo complemented the imaginative sets, both of which enriched and deepened ambiance.

Mime, action, movement propelled the story: piracy, the battle between the corsaires and the Turks, the capture and liberation of the slaves, a bustling slave market, a happy ending for Medora and Conrad.

In an instance in Act II, the stage was at a standstill as the cast waited for the recorded music to begin. But other than that unwelcome pause, Le Corsaire fascinated, entranced and arrested attention throughout.

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With Hubert d’Aboville as president-founder of the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival, and Miro Grgic as co-founder, the three-day event was reportedly a spectacular success, Olivia d’Aboville serving as curator. She, Gus Albor, Agnes Arellano, Leeroy New, Nicolo Jose, Dennis Lagdameo, Agus Kama Loedin, Grace and Dondi Katigbak, Karla Cachola, Risa Recto, Mikai Rodrigo, Francis Sollano, Mona Alcudia, Hiyas Bagabaldo, Raphael Daniel David, Troy Silvestre, Cruz, Fulo and Verayo, Billie Bonnevie, Malasimbo’s home-grown sculptor Doring and Angel Lalongisip, and one Indonesian participated in the art installations.

Singers were Grace Nono and Bob Aves, the Mar Dizon Quartet, Jazlagiba, Freddie Joachim, Jamaican King of reggae music Jimmy Cliff, the English diva of soul music Joss Stone and Quest, Hip-Hop singer-songwriter.

The rich indigenous culture of the Mangyan tribes of Mindoro highlighted the Festival held at the foot of Mt. Malasimbo overlooking Puerto Galera Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

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Each of the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s “Rush Hour Concerts” at Ayala Museum is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The programs follow: Musc for Woodwinds: Haydn, Debussy, Rameau, Parungao and Koepke, April 18/Music for Brasses and Percussion: Pachelbel, Maurer, Da Costa, Cook, Buggert and Bach: May 2/MSO 2013 season launch: Grieg, Handel, Bach, Da Costa and Prokofiev, May 22.