WOW Factor - Two Shows down and Final to go.

With WOW rave's from people who came and saw the first two performances, it is now the final night and things have heated up to what would be the best TOP Grade World Class performance ever for Fiji.

Tonight marks the end of the Our Journey together as a cast. It has been an awesome uplifting experience. Now is the time to see what the cast and every person involved in "Malaga The Journey" 2010 Fiji will deliver and also take away with them. If you still haven't seen the show, your missing out on a awesome production.

"Malaga The Journey" Fiji 2010.

"Malaga the Journey" 2010 Fiji last night opened its doors to its first show and were greeted with a full house. Thanks to the inspiration giving by Playwright Mr.Larry Thomas in the afternoon, the cast was able to step up to the plate and deliver and deliver we did a world class production. Tickets are still on sale for Friday Night and Saturday. Dont miss out.

Malaga Magic

BE prepared for a performance powerful enough to move you to tears when some of Fiji's finest voices take centre stage in a musical production today.

Put together by world renowned composer, Igelese Ete has teamed up with fellow composers Damiano Logaivau and Calvin Rore and acclaimed Fijian playwright Larry Thomas, to bring you Malaga The Journey Fiji.

Guaranteed to inspire, Mr Ete said the 75-member cast deserved to be on a world class stage.

Mr Ete said about 11 to 12 different languages are used in Malaga.

"For me, they deserve to be a on world class stage," he said. "This is it, the world can come and see them here in Suva City.

"The audience will be really moved and inspired by what this cast will do.


Mary Rauto
Thursday, December 09, 2010

Count Down begins:

Bula,

The Count down to the first night has begun and with only just a little over 24 hours left to the first show, spirits are high...the opening should be a blast. With the final touch ups to transitions and movements happening today and a Full Dress Rehearsal tonight, things should be flowing by curtain open 2morrow. Here are just some pics from Prep and rehearsal's @ the Suva Civic Center.

"Malaga The Journey" 2010. A Journey with a difference. Ready to set a whole new standard.

Bio - Esther Baleinuku

(Soloist - People of the Sea)




Bula my names Esther Baleinuku, I am 18 years of age. And a daughter of a pastor in the Immanuel Church Mr. & Mrs. Sakiusa & Vani Baleinuku who currently reside in Sigatoka, Nadroga/Navosa.

I have two older Sisters and two younger brothers. My Educational journey saw me attended Vishnu Deo Memorial School for my Primary Education and then carried onto Lelean Memorial High School for my Secondary School Education, finishing this year in Form 7.

From the tender age of 6 I loved to sing and would sing in church with my father playing the keyboard. One of my favorites song, would be that of Darlene Zscheck “Hear this praises”. Up until now I would only prefer to sing in Church, Open Air Missions, and Conferences until I decided to join and try out this production.
It for me, has been a wonderful experience to see the many untapped talents our nation has and so far this production has had a profound influence on me. It’s full of inspiriting songs, very friendly and loving people who share in the common love of singing with me. I love the fact that we begin each practice with a prayer to the almighty and end practices with a prayer as well. I believe putting god first would see such a Production or anything for that matter come to fruition.

This production has somewhat told me to cherish and hold onto to my heritage as a Fijian, which is somewhat slipping away for many with the movement to globalization. It has also taught me and the Cast of this production to always also place god first in the many things we commit to. It has also taught me to have faith in myself and has given the edge and the courage to tackle whatever comes my way and has seen me make a whole lot more friends, most of whom are older than I am.

All in all I would like to thank firstly the almighty for giving me this chance to experience, and for Mr. Igelese Ete and the Production team in having me deliver a solo part in the song “People of the Sea” and for bringing such a production to our shores again and in turn helping show case the many talents Fiji has to the rest of the Pacific and the Global village we live in.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the families that have supported me during the long hours and late nights of production practice, to the Balenuku family, Mataitoga Family, Leweniqila Family, Logavatu Family, Cagilaba Family, Kotobalavu Family and last but not the least Utuvou Family and to my Aunty Mrs. Keasi Masikerei for giving me her full support.

A Big Vinaka Vakalevu & Thank you.
Esther Baleinuku.

Determination to set a standard.

Bula,

Practice Sessions over the last couple of days and in the build up to the last 3 days before production on Thursday 9th, will see the Cast endure longer hours to make this production of world class. The unity and determination to set a standard above that of the production in 2006 has been united decision. Cast and production team have been working tirelessly. Production dates for "Malaga The Journey" 2010 are the 9th,10th, 11th December.

See you all there.

Tickets Sales for Production

Bula,

The past week has seen many of the cast members of "Malaga The Journey" 2010 take to the streets to sell tickets to the general public. Feed back from a few of the Cast & I quote - Its a tiring job sitting from 8am in the morning to 5:30pm but most of them don't mind doing it, because it means they get to mingle with those who come to buy tickets and watch the show. While some of the Cast prefer to be the silent supporter it is good to see Cast members of the 2010 production come out in full force to see that tickets for this years Journey sell.

Malaga to put on musical show

Weeks of rehearsals in what will be a fusion of Pacific music and dance, is slowly coming to an end with the cast of Malaga squeezing in practice time with a week left to take the stage.

With the combination of the Pasifika Voices and Conservatorium of Music performers, a mixture of traditional and contemporary musical numbers is expected that like in the previous production in 2006, has left the crowd emotional.

Jason Konrote of Pasifika Voices said it has also been a learning experience appreciating new forms of music and dance.

Mesake Vuniwai of Vaturoa, Nakelo Tailevu, who is a member of the Conservatorium of Music said it is a challenge to step out of the traditional music form they are used to.

Malaga The Journey musical production will be held on the 9th to the 11th of this month.


Story by: Ana Naisoro

Bula Everyone,

Just afew updates to the last couple of days which has seen the Cast and Production team locking down transitions for "Malaga The Journey" 2010. We have been working closely with Igelese Ete, and choreographer Allan Alo of the Oceania Center from the University of the South Pacific.

Energy level have been building and the Cast plans to push this production to a whole other level way different from productions in the past carried out in NZ and everywhere else.....

"Malaga The Journey" 2010 (FIJI). Will be a must see production.

Malaga ready to roll

THE cast of Malaga "The Journey" Fiji takes to the stage next Thursday.

Producer Masada Vuikadavu said the production would be staged from December 9 to 11.

"At the moment we are doing rehearsals for the choreography with Allan Alo," Mr Vuikadavu said.

"We are trying to settle things before production week."

Mr Vuikadavu said the group's performance had grown stronger since the death of one of Malaga's founding members, Sailosi Toganivalu. The show is dedicated to Mr Toganivalu.

The cast of musical production is made up of close to 100 people ù who are mothers, fathers, bank tellers and a shoeshine boy.

"There is a cast of 69," he said.

"That's just the singers. With the dancers we are looking at a number of more 90.

"Malaga 2006 had university students but this time we have people from all walks of life."

World renowned composer Igelese Ete is collaborating with fellow composers Damiano Logaivau and Calvin Rore.

He will also team up with acclaimed Fijian playwright/ director Larry Thomas.


Mary Rauto
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Fiji Times.

Return of Malaga

CLOSE to 100 people from different walks of life are making the musical production, an experience not to be missed.

Malaga "The Journey" to Fiji rehearsals have begun and unlike Malaga 2006, producer Masada Vuikadavu said the cast was made up of mothers, fathers, bank tellers and even a shoeshine boy.

"There is a cast of 69, " he said. "That's just the singers.

"With the dancers we are looking at a number of more 90.

"We had the audition for dancers last week

"Malaga 2006 had university students but this time we have people from all walks of life."

World renowned composer Igelese Ete is collaborating with fellow composers Damiano Logaivau and Calvin Rore.

He will also team up with acclaimed Fijian playwright/ director Larry Thomas.

Mr Vuikadavu said they incorporated the meke and different styles of dancing to complement the singing.

"The type of dancing will surprise a lot of people. This Malaga is different because it is an experience."

Mr Ete said the production would be about selecting the most inspiring and passionate cast that will deliver with heart, soul and excellence and be able to work intensely in high frequencies. The return of Malaga "The Journey" to Fiji dates are December 9 to 11 at the Suva Civic Auditorium.

"Malaga is about inspiration, empowerment, and the uplifting of the nation via the Fijian/Pacific creative and performing arts," Mr Ete said.

"We know that together, we will succeed" and so auditions are open to all regardless of race, gender or creed."

(Quote from Fiji Times)

Local musical audition draws unhidden talent

MORE than 20 people turned up for the first day auditions for a musical production.

Composer Igelese Ete said he was impressed with the local talent that turned up at the auditions for Malaga "The Journey" to Fiji.

Auditions held at the Fiji Arts Council on Waimanu Road saw 27 young people turn up yesterday.

The auditions continue today from 10am to 8pm.

"It's been great," he said. "We thoroughly enjoyed what we've seen.

"We will see unearthing of unknown talents and there is huge amount of potentials.

"With all the talents we've had we'll produce something world class."

Mr Ete said the production would essentially be about selecting the most inspiring and passionate cast that will deliver with heart, soul and excellence- and be able to work intensely in high frequencies.

The return of Malaga "The Journey" to Fiji dates are December 9 to 11 at the Suva Civic Auditorium.

"Malaga is about inspiration, empowerment, and the uplifting of the nation via the Fijian/pacific creative and performing arts," Mr Ete said.

"We know that together, we will succeed" and so auditions are open to all regardless of race, gender or creed."

Mr Ete said the production, combined with a wide variety of musical genres, choral and dance; upcoming talent and a dynamic Production Team, Malaga Fiji 2010 promises to be the beginning of another great journey.

Following the auditions, the cast will head into an intense five to six weeks rehearsal schedule before opening night.

A media release said on the back of the most recent Malaga in Wellington, New Zealand last month, where it wowed audiences.

"Ete if refining the Malaga production for the Malaga Australia, Sydney Opera House next February, the possibility of having as part of the World Cup Festival in New Zealand and eventually the famous musical stage of Broadway New York in 2012."

Mr Ete will be collaborating with fellow composers Damiano Logaivau and Calvin Rore, who have both just returned from a successful production in Tonga.

He will also team up with acclaimed Fijian playwright/ director Larry Thomas.


Mary Rauto
Saturday, October 16, 2010
(Fiji Times)

Blast from the Past.

Here are just some of the professional Video's that as a result of the production of Malaga "The Journey" 2006. The Original Choir of 2006 transitioned in Malaga Singers and now into Pasifika Voices, was able to be the backup Vocals choir in these Video's






And here are Video's that were shot of the Choir invited to sing and inspire a large audiences at the University of the South Pacific for Open day and the Musical Production organised by the choir itself involving many of the Secondary Schools in Suva. A feat we never dreamed we would pull off at the inception of the idea.


University of the South Pacific Open Day.



The Secondary Schools Music Festival 2007/2008

Brief History of Malaga "The Journey" from NZ to Fiji

Malaga "The Journey"

Originally a 12-minute Choral work conceived and composed by Igelese Ete and Jakki Leota-Ete for the “Mana Pasifika" exhibition at the Opening of festivities for Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, New Zealand. The performance popularity then led to a Commissioning of a 50-minute production for the Christchurch Festival of Arts which was then significantly revised, expanded and performed to rave reviews in Auckland in 2001 and 2002.

In 2006,The production, which was no doubt the first of its kind to be presented in Fiji, was featured with New dance choreography and Musical sections from various parts of Melanesia and Micronesia and Polynesian to give it a truly Pacific feel. Malaga "The Journey" was produced back to back with the Vaka Vuku Conference held in Fiji at the Unversity of the South Pacific at the time.

Malaga in its true sense is a journey rich in song, dance and spirituality. From the rhythms of pagan drums to the choruses of Christian redemption, the cast sing of their journey from past to present.

Just a note to remember

Keep the Month of November open. It is a must that you not "MISS" this awesome production that is from the 21st - 27th of November.

Return of Malaga "The Journey"

Bula Vinaka,

A MUSICAL production by a renowned composer could soon be heard on Broadway in New York to the Rugby World Cup Festival in New Zealand.Samoan composer, Lord of the Rings choir master and former University of the South Pacific lecturer Igelese Ete is refining his composition Malaga, meaning journey in Samoan.Mr Ete hopes to re-stage the production in Suva towards the end of November.Fiji auditions would be held at the beginning of October with the final group for the Fiji cast for 2010 to be announced in the second week.Following that, the cast will head into an intense five to six weeks rehearsal schedule before opening night on November 25.A media release said on the back of the most recent Malaga in Wellington, New Zealand last month, where it wowed audiences.

"Ete is refining the Malaga production for the Malaga Australia, Sydney Opera House next February, the possibility of having as part of the World Cup Festival in New Zealand and eventually the famous musical stage of Broadway New York in 2012."Mr Ete will be collaborating with fellow composers Damiano Logaivau and Calvin Rore, who have both just returned from a successful production in Tonga."Damiano and Calvin are brilliant composers and musicians in their own right and we share the common view that music is and should be a tool of empowerment and inspiration for all involved," he said.

Mr Ete will also team up with acclaimed Fijian playwright/ director Larry Thomas.

(Quoted from the Fiji Times).