'Karim at Jasmin' earns overwhelming support from Consul General Mary Jo Aragon

LOS ANGELES - Maria Cristina "Kit" Navarro and Christopher Avendano's recent performance at a despedida reception for Deputy Consul General Ma. Hellen Barber on August 18 at Radisson Midtown Hotel in downtown Los Angeles gave a telltale indications of what audience can expect of "Karim at Jasmin" when it goes onstage at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts on September 21 and 22, 2007.

Avendano and Navarro, who play the ill-fated mortal Prince Karim and the water nymph Jasmin from Dr. Ramon Sison Geluz's literary and musical masterpiece, rendered select songs from the opera. Their performance not only received well-deserved applause but earned raves from the guests, especially Philippine Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon. The Consul General gave her overwhelming support for the showing of "Karim at Jasmin."

"I encourage every one of you to see 'Karim at Jasmin'," she said. "It is a 'must-see' production, and I am sure that you will enjoy it, as I did. I commend and congratulate Dr. Geluz for his very beautiful tribute to our culture and heritage."

ConGen Aragon was among those who graced the successful premiere showing of "Karim at Jasmin" at Long Beach Convention Center Terrace Theater last June 23, 2007. Hailed as a 'history-making production', "Karim at Jasmin" earned praises from those who saw it. For his pioneering effort in staging the first original Filipino opera, its writer, composer and librettist Dr. Geluz was honored with the "Great Achiever Award" by the organizers of the recent U.S.-Philippine Trade Expo 2007. He also received two Special Congressional Recognitions from the United States House of Representatives.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez commended him "for his tireless efforts and creative and generous work to leave a lasting legacy of the first original Filipino opera."

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, meanwhile, honored him "for his initiative and leadership that allowed the opera to become a possibility for our community to enjoy."

"Karim at Jasmin's" scheduled run at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts is the first leg of the production's U.S. Cities and World Tour that will take it to various cities in both coasts - San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and New Jersey, as well as in Hawaii and in the Philippines, where "Karim at Jasmin" debuted at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in November 2006.

In preparation for the production's U.S. Tour, Dr. Geluz, together with world renowned classical pianist Joselito Pascual, have created and arranged an even more amazing orchestral accompaniment for the cast of "Karim at Jasmin."

Joining Navarro and Avendano in the over 70-member powerful cast of "Karim at Jasmin" are: soloist and lead baritone of the New York Opera Andrew Fernando to play "Heneral"; coloratura soprano Joan Cano as "Rajita"; baritone Carl Concepcion will play "Huramentado"; sopranos Everlita Rivera David (Ina ng Lawa) and Bess de Guzman Valenzuela (Reyna); and baritone Armando Robles will play "Hari", with Joseph Cruz as the "Narrtor", and a host of other exceptional performers who were assembled for the monumental project.

Choreographer Paolo Alcedo, who will also be the artistic and stage director, has added more classical dance sequences to further enhance the quality of the tour's performance. Jun Gomez will be the show's technical, lighting and set director.

"Karim at Jasmin", produced by MRG Services, Inc. with Lani Del Rosario Geluz as executive producer, is also brought to you by Taliba, Balita and MyGringos.com.

For ticket reservations, call: (562) 677-5340 or (562) 455-7250.

A Musical Opera by Ramon Sison Geluz

A Juramentado (amok) disrupts the wedding of Prince Karim to Rajita in an attempt to assassinate the neighboring Heneral who is a guest at the celebration. The King, Karim's father, perishes in the struggle and festivity quickly turns into mourning.

The Heneral retaliates by poisoning the lake waters that sustain the villages. The villagers, including Karim fall sick. They seek the healing powers of the Ina ng Lawa (Mother Spirit) and the Diwatas (water spirits).

Prince Karim, a mortal, falls in love and later marries Jasmin, the water spirit assigned to care him. The jilted Rajita connives with the Heneral in a bid to slay Jasmin and claim Karim for herself. The Ina ng Lawa reveals to the Heneral their past relationship and his cruelty to her people but was not able to convince the Heneral to abort his plan. Without remorse for his past evil acts, he attacks Karim's kingdom.

It is only during the battle, where he learns that Jasmin, whom he planned to kill for his deal with Rajita is actually his own daughter, after the Ina ng Lawa reveals the truth to him. As the Heneral sought to ask forgiveness from Jasmin, Karim, thinking that his wife was in danger, engages the Heneral into a fight where they mortally wound each other. As the smoke of war clears, the Heneral and Karim lay dying.

Over their bodies, Jasmin vows to pursue peace for the future of the baby she is carrying in her womb.