Ballet Philippines Opens Its 56th Season with a Spectacular Gala: Three Masters, One Stage Unites BP, Repertory Philippines, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra.
For the first time in Philippine performing arts history, three of the country’s premier cultural institutions—Ballet Philippines (BP), Repertory Philippines (REP), and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO)—joined forces for a world-class, family-friendly double bill.
Held on August 1 at The Theatre at Solaire, the Gala Performance marked the official opening of BP’s 56th Season and featured a landmark staging of Peter and the Wolf, headlined by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa as guest narrator.
In her remarks, Repertory Philippines President and CEO Mindy Perez-Rubio shared that the idea for this production was inspired by her time at the San Francisco Symphony League, where she dreamed of combining orchestral music and live theater for young audiences. The collaboration with BP and MSO was born from that vision—and both institutions, she noted, said yes without hesitation.
Peter and the Wolf—composed by Sergei Prokofiev as an introduction to symphonic instruments—came to life through the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s evocative playing, conducted by Maestro Marlon Chen, and REP’s theatrical staging.
The Gala performance was dedicated to Sister Mary Placid of St. Scholastica’s School of Music, where many MSO musicians, including Executive Director Jeffrey Solares and Hontiveros herself, received their training.
Following the opening piece, Ballet Philippines presented Little Red Riding Hood, a full-length classical ballet choreographed by Russian artist Mikhail Martynyuk. Using the music of Saint-Saëns and Grieg, the performance offered a poignant, playful reimagining of the fairytale, filled with themes of courage, kindness, and emotional discovery.
In her welcome remarks, BP President Kathleen “Maymay” Liechtenstein introduced the season’s theme: Our Stage, The World. She highlighted the company’s growing global footprint—from Expo 2025 Osaka to an upcoming European tour—while emphasizing that “home is where our heart beats.” She also celebrated the historic collaboration between BP, REP, and MSO, whose combined artistic legacies span 213 years.
Maan Hontiveros, representing the MSO, called the evening a “celebration of creative synergy,” marking the first time the three institutions performed together on one stage. She reflected on MSO’s long history of supporting ballet and musical theater, reinforcing how orchestral music enhances both movement and narrative. She also noted that MSO invited music and non-music students and their families as part of their outreach—many of whom were experiencing live symphonic music for the first time.
Indeed, the evening wasn’t just a cultural milestone—it was also a celebration of inclusion and access. As part of Ballet Philippines’ long-running advocacy, more than 1,000 free seats were offered to families from underserved barangays, military personnel, Indigenous communities, and other partner groups.
Running until August 3, Three Masters, One Stage continues to blend orchestral music, compelling theater, and exquisite ballet—an artistic collaboration that seeks to inspire, educate, and expand audiences across generations.
You can still catch the shows on August 2 and 3 at 2PM and 7PM.
Tickets are available via TicketWorld and the Solaire Box Office and through REP, MSO and BP channels.
The Little Red Riding Hood is a full-length ballet directed, choreographed, and set designed by Ballet Philippines’ Artistic Director, Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk. Peter and the Wolf is a Repertory Philippines musical theater production directed by Jeremy Domingo and choreographed by PJ Rebullida.
The twin bill featured live music performed by Manila Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Marlon Chen, with Jeffrey Solares as Executive Director.
Stay tuned to Ballet Philippines, Repertory Philippines, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra for upcoming shows and outreach initiatives throughout the 56th season.