The Philippine Star reports that three major cultural forces—Repertory Philippines, Ballet Philippines, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO)—came together for the first time in a single performance, staged August 1–3 at The Theatre at Solaire.
The twin-bill program opened with Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, a symphonic tale introducing each character through a unique orchestral instrument. On opening night, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa narrated the piece, accompanied by the MSO under conductor Marlon Chen. According to the story, other celebrity narrators included Karylle Tatlonghari, Tim Yap, Akiko Thomson-Guevara, Liza Chan-Parpan, and Maanne Hontiveros, all performing pro bono.
Since the work runs under 30 minutes, Ballet Philippines paired it with a classical adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, set to music by Camille Saint-Saëns and Edvard Grieg. This reimagined take on Charles Perrault’s fable wove themes of bravery, kindness, and wisdom into expressive choreography.
The collaboration also highlighted a shared commitment to accessibility, with over a thousand complimentary tickets distributed to students, indigenous youth, uniformed personnel, and members of underserved communities.
The event marked a milestone in Philippine performing arts, uniting theater, ballet, and orchestral music in one stage for the first time—a celebration of artistic synergy and cultural outreach.
Read the full story by Leah C. Salterio for The Philippine Star here.