The Philippine Online Chronicles

MUSIC

Cecile Licad in Jazz Festival

Renowned classical pianist Cecile Licad wowed audiences as part of a jazz ensemble at a London jazz festival. Bringing to life a silent film about jazz legend Louis Armstrong, Licad and her group played at Barbican Hall.

Critics praised the performance with The Guardian’s John Fordham saying, “Much more raucous was the soundtrack music…performed at the Barbican in the afternoon. Child star Anthony Coleman was delightful as the young Armstrong, though Pritzker’s emphasis on slapstick comedy and designer-bordello sensuality risked turning early-20th-century New Orleans into a pretty piece of postmodern tourism. But Wynton Marsalis’ live score, played by a storming group of his longtime associates and local players, and the awesome classical pianist Cecile Licad, rightly had the crowd cheering as the credits rolled.”

A film critic Mike Hobart also said, “Concert pianist Cecile Licad unleashed the bittersweet contours of Gottschalk’s Chopinesque compositions, while an on-the-money nonet, led by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, swung hard and dug deep, driven by drummer Herlin Riley’s imperious, hard-boiled shuffles. At times, the score switched from one style to the other, following the film to the slightest gesture. At others, it was rhythmically at odds, the ragtime jangle of Licad’s piano or the moan of Jellyroll horns giving a surreal undertow to street life and bawdy dance alike.”

Ballet Philippines goes classical, Ballet Manila goes Pinoy

Ballet Philippines is nearing its re-staging of The Sleeping Beauty in December after 23 years. At the time of the original staging, Lisa Macuja, Cecile Sicangco and Nonoy Froilan played the lead roles. They also featured international ballet dancer Avars Leimanis as guest artist.

From December 2 to 11, twins Carissa and Candice Adea and Katherine Trofeo will alternate as Princess Aurora while Jean Marc Cordero will play Prince Desire.

This year’s international guest artist will be Nobueo Fujino from Japan’s Egawa Ballet School. He will play Prince Desire on gala night with Candice Adea as partner.

Fujino said it is difficult for him to interpret the prince, who is well known as “prince charming,” having no background or identity.

Meanwhile, Candice said, “I’m glad we have this opportunity to work with a foreign dancer. It’s a different experience to see his process and how he works.”

Of the play, Trofeo said, “It’s exciting and very challenging at the same time because it’s the most classical and straight, square kind of ballet. The tradition of classicism is boxed in that ballet.”

For more details visit www.balletphilippines.org. For tickets call Ticketworld at 891- 9999; Ballet Philippines at 551-1003, 624-5701; CCP Box Office at 832-3704.

On the other hand, Ballet Manila will be having a Christmas presentation with a new presentation “Maligayang Christmas.”

Among the choreographies featured is Kutitap, a colorful dance set based on Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. It is a one-act all original Pinoy Christmas ballet, an idea of Lisa Macuja-Elizalde.

“Like Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, our newest all-Filipino holiday ballet is something that the whole family can watch together and enjoy. We are also showing other original pieces in the program for a real holiday treat,” said Macuja-Elizalde. Other choreographies featured are Green, The Light, Diane and Acteon and Pas D’Action.

Opening night tickets are available through SM Tickets at 470-2222 and Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.

For inquiries, call the Ballet Manila office at 400-0292, 525-5967 or e-mailinfo@balletmanila.com.ph.

VISUAL ARTS

Maguindanao’s shadow

Photojournalist Jes Aznar recently launched his new photo exhibit “Under the Lord’s Shadow” at the Kanto art space, an independent gallery in Makati.

Best known for his documentary photography on various humanitarian issues such as that of Hacienda Luisita, Aznar tackles in “Under the Lord’s Shadow” his pictures of Maguindanao, some from the aftermath of the infamous Maguindanao massacre on Nov. 23, 2009.

It was a culmination of the 2^nd anniversary of the tragic event. Representatives of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines were present, fresh from their protest action at Mendiola Bridge.

"[The province] is like the Philippines, with its problems magnified ten times over. It is one of the poorest provinces, with large economic disparities between the social/political elites and those outside their circle. One poignant shot which I still recall from the Bedroom Lab presentation involved children waiting to take whatever corn was left after a husking machine went through dozens of cobs. And then there was, in contrast, shots of the very clean and well-lit place that was the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao governor's residence,” he told GMA News Online.

Instituto Cervantes’ photography workshop

The Spanish Embassy and Instituto Cervantes are out and about again, this time with a mini-workshop on photography featuring contemporary Spanish photographer Txema Salvans.

Scheduled for Dec. 3, 2 p.m. at the Metropolitan Museum, “Encuentros en la fotografia” (Encounters in Photography) will tackle Salvans’ concept and techniques in photography. He will reportedly focus on framing skills.

Like Aznar, Salvans is a documentary photographer. However, unlike Aznar, he focuses on street photography. In 2005, he won the Best Spanish Photography Book Award with “Nice to Meet You,” a volume of snapshots of families enjoying their leisure at the Mediterranean coast.

Before the workshop, Salvans will meet with photography students from the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde School of Arts and Design on Nov. 30. Following that, Salvans will be embarking on an interesting project, following a different student for each day, from Dec. 1 to 6 to show his point of view of the young Filipino society.

Admission to the “Encuentros en la fotografia” workshop is free but registration is a first-come, first-served basis. Signing-up will be done at the Instituto Cervantes until Dec. 2. For more information, please call 526-1482 local 115 or visit http://manila.cervantes.es. Instituto Cervantes de Manila is at 855 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita.