Ballet Manila, Aliw Theater to stage grand comeback with Rise!

Ballet Manila is set to stage a grand comeback with Rise! a double bill presentation incorporating ballet, opera, pop music and orchestral music happening on October 7, 2022, 8:00 PM and October 9, 2022, 5:00 PM at the newly renovated Aliw Theater.

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde 

Rise! is significantly important for Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Ballet Manila's CEO and Artistic Director. For years, she has celebrated her birthday in October with a special performance by her company at the Aliw Theater, which in itself was a gift from her husband, Fred J. Elizalde. But the October 2019 fire that gutted Star City, coupled with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, have put this birthday tradition to a stop.

Romeo Peralta

Now, three years later, Ballet Manila's dancers are ready to go on stage in front of a live audience. Joining the dancers for Rise! are multi-awarded recording artist Bituin Escalante, classical singers Jade Riccio, Ivan Nery, and Chris Arceo, a 12 member opera ensemble, and a 60 piece orchestra to be conducted by Gerard Salonga.

Bituin Escalante

The first half of Rise! will be the latest iteration of Ballet & Ballads with Bituin Escalante as the featured vocalist performing songs of hope in keeping with the overall theme of this part of the program.

Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo

The show's second half will be the return of La Traviata. This opera by Giuseppe Verdi was turned into a ballet by Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and was staged to cap Ballet Manila's 24th season shortly before the pandemic forced everything into lockdown. Back then, with the company still reeling from the fire, the production held at the Samsung Hall at SM Aura was downscaled with the dancers performing to recorded music. With Rise!, the production will be closer to her original vision of having live singing and a live orchestral accompaniment.

Jade Riccio

Soprano Jade Riccio will sing the role of Violetta with tenor Ivan Nery as Alfredo, and baritone Chris Arceo as Giorgio Germont. Veteran opera singer Andrew Fernando, who suddenly passed away in mid-August, was originally tapped to sing the role of Giorgio Germont.

Bituin Escalante, Jade Riccio, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Luna Inocian, Abigail Oliveiro,
Mark Sumaylo, and Gerardo Francisco, Jr. 

The creative team for Rise! is led by Lisa Macuja-Elizalde as overall Artistic Director, theater artist Michael Williams as the Stage Director, playwright Luna Inocian as the Scriptwriter, Gerard Salonga as Music Director, and Gerardo Francisco Jr. and Martin Lawrance as Choreographers.