The Price of Talent: Ryan Cayabyab’s Revealed Fee

• Ryan Cayabyab revealed his talent fee during a press conference
• Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Creative Director of Ballet Manila, was scared to ask Cayabyab because of his high talent fee
• Cayabyab composed the original score for Ballet Manila’s "Florante at Laura"
• Cayabyab gave Ballet Manila a fantastic deal for his previous work, "Mahiwagang Biyulin"
• Cayabyab did not disclose the exact figure of his talent fee for "Florante at Laura"
• Cayabyab did not charge for writing the orchestration for "Florante at Laura" as a gift to the Filipino people
• Cayabyab increased the number of musicians in the orchestra for the world premiere of "Florante at Laura" to match Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s 60th birthday
• Cayabyab mentioned that he has done many big works for free or a low fee because he values art and believes he can pay his bills through other means
• Ballet Manila recently wrapped up the first three shows of "Florante at Laura"

Renowned music composer Ryan Cayabyab recently revealed his talent fee during a press conference for the world premiere of Ballet Manila’s “Florante at Laura,” where he composed the original score. Known as a National Artist for Music in the Philippines, Cayabyab did not hold back in declaring that he is “very expensive” when it comes to his price tag. Despite this, the ballet company’s Creative Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde expressed that working with Cayabyab was a dream come true for her.

Macuja-Elizalde shared her initial hesitations in approaching Cayabyab for the project due to the expected talent fee. However, having previously collaborated with Cayabyab on “Mahiwagang Biyulin,” she decided to take a chance and ask him to work with Ballet Manila again. To her surprise, Cayabyab agreed to compose the music for “Florante at Laura,” leading to a successful partnership between the composer and the ballet company.

Recalling their previous collaboration on “Mahiwagang Biyulin,” Macuja-Elizalde mentioned that Cayabyab had given them a generous deal of only asking for P5,000 for every performance. This arrangement led to a positive working relationship between the two parties, with Cayabyab even expressing surprise when he received additional compensation for their performances.

For “Florante at Laura,” a much larger and more complex production compared to “Mahiwagang Biyulin,” Cayabyab decided to charge a higher fee for the orchestration of the ballet’s music. Despite not disclosing the exact amount, Cayabyab explained that the increased price was due to the extensive time and effort he put into composing the music. He also mentioned that he chose to orchestrate the music himself as a gift to the Filipino people and as a gesture of gratitude towards Macuja-Elizalde.

In addition to composing the music for the ballet, Cayabyab surprised Macuja-Elizalde by increasing the number of musicians in the orchestra to match her 60th birthday for the world premiere. This act of generosity further showcased Cayabyab’s dedication to his craft and his willingness to contribute to the arts in the Philippines.

Throughout his career, Cayabyab emphasized the importance of creating meaningful works for the arts, often working for free or for a minimal fee to support the industry. He acknowledged that his main goal is to produce quality music that resonates with audiences, regardless of the financial compensation he receives.

The successful collaboration between Ryan Cayabyab and Ballet Manila resulted in the world premiere of “Florante at Laura,” a new original ballet featuring choreography by Gerardo Francisco and Martin Lawrance, live instrumentation by the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth conducted by Cayabyab’s son, Toma Cayabyab, and production design by Mio Infante. The production received positive reviews and showcased the talents of both Cayabyab and the Ballet Manila team.

As Cayabyab continues to inspire audiences with his music and dedication to the arts, his collaboration with Ballet Manila serves as a testament to the power of artistic expression and the impact of creative partnerships in the Philippines.

/Digital Sauce