Push Admin

Alice Reyes' 'Carmina Burana' returns with PPO, Madrigal Singers

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171756607777120240605 ccp.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Alice Reyes&#x27; &#x27;Carmina Burana&#x27; returns with PPO, Madrigal Singers"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"> Lester Reguindin and Sarah Alejandro in &#x27;Carmina Burana 2018.&#x27; <em>Jojo Mamangun</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Even if National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes spent 26 years in the US West Coast, she has not lost touch with the Philippines – from her relatives to her friends to the artists.</p><p>Erstwhile president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Margie Moran Floirendo convinced Reyes to return to Manila in 2017.</p><p>“Margie was worried that the company was heading towards the 50th and they were losing dancers to cruise ships, Disney World, Disneyland because the pay wasn’t as good as what they could get,” Reyes told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>“That’s why it was a constant struggle [for me]. I am constantly raising money because I want the dancers to be paid a respectable fee.”</p><p>Reyes recently faced the media to announce the restaging of “Carmina Burana,” one of the most iconic pieces of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP).</p><p>She cannot be any happier that her company will have the opportunity to perform “Carmina Burana” live with the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO). </p><p>“It’s not easy to stage ‘Carmina Burana’ with all the components – live orchestra, live singers, choirs,” Reyes admitted. “We were able to use the costumes of Salvador Bernal, our National Artist for Theater and Design.”</p><p>“Carmina Burana” was part of the stage production “Alay ni Alice at Agnes,” with the two National Artists for Dance – Alice Reyes and Agnes Locsin – presented online in 2022.</p><p>“Two years later, we are staging ‘Carmina Burana’ live,” Reyes said. “It is one of the company’s most iconic pieces, inspired by the goliardic verses set to Carl Orff’s majestic score. It’s something so unique and unusual.”</p><p>Vividly enhanced by Bernal’s sets and costumes, the stage is adorned by rock formations on both sides, with refracted crystal-like formations that emulate stained-glass windows with a central cauldron that billows with smoke and fire.</p><p>In the same light, Bernal had the dancers transform from their dark lights, skull caps and white capelets for the ritual scene to emerald lights and long skirts for the spring dancers and full white, floor-length circular capes creating a lasting vision of bodies bursting with energy moving through space with white fabric in their trails.</p><p>The media conference was held at the Miranilla Heritage House in Quezon City, a place close to Reyes, who has a long history with the Benitez family, owners of Miranilla.</p><p>“Alice was one of the pioneer dancers of the Bayanihan Dance Company,” said Petty Benitez Johannot of the Miranilla Heritage House. “She and her father danced the tinikling. She was then a young, 16-year-old.”</p><p>The first time Reyes and her group staged “Carmina Burana” was in 1975 with the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), conducted by Oscar Yatco at the CCP that opened in 1969.</p><p>“We performed in front of the orchestra,” recalled Reyes. “CCP was very new at that time. Today, CCP very kindly said yes, with the office of the president, Michelle Junia and Dennis Marasigan as the OIC [before new CCP president Kaye Tinga was recently appointed].”</p><p>Reyes is bringing in a fresh perspective for staging “Carmina Burana.” “This is a wonderful company of very experienced and extremely talented young artists,” she bragged. “Ang ganda-ganda ng dynamics.</p><p>“Dance is always of the moment. It’s not something you can put on a canvass, paint and put on a wall. Generations will see the same painting. A dancer will dance my solo in a certain way.</p><p>“This new dancer will perform it in a different way. As a choreographer, it’s a joy for me because I see a different interpretation.</p><p>“For those who have seen previous performances, they will say ‘Wow!’ For those who have not, they are going to see that beautiful song written for a tenor or a baritone dance in that scenic setting created by Salvador Bernal.”</p><p>To prove how popular “Carmina Burana” is, Tats Rejante Manahan noted that the ballet is presently being staged in 80 countries between May 2024 and June 2025. “It has the slant of medieval poetry and literature,” Manahan said.</p><p>Other dances to be performed with “Carmina Burana” are “Dugso (The Offering),” choreographed by Reyes, with music by Dr. Ramon Santos, National Artist for Music with original set design by Ray Albano and costume design by Bernal; “Summer’s End,” choregraphed by Norman Walker and music by Frederic Chopin and costume design by Walker; and “After Whom” choregraphed by Augustus “Bam” Damian III, with music by Jerrold Tarog, also an acclaimed film director.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>“Carmina Burana” goes onstage June 14 and 15 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, with two performances on June 15.</em></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes cannot be any happier that her company will have the opportunity to perform 'Carmina Burana' live with the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.</p>

National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes cannot be any happier that her company will have the opportunity to perform 'Carmina Burana' live with the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.