BP, REP, and MSO join forces for the first time, blending storytelling, choreography, and live orchestral music in a single evening.
Daily Tribune writes about Three Masters, One Stage — a gala evening of art, music, and movement uniting Ballet Philippines (BP), Repertory Philippines (REP), and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) for an all-ages showcase.
The program opened with REP’s Peter and the Wolf, directed by Jeremy Domingo and choreographed by PJ Rebullida, with narration by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa. MSO, under Maestro Marlon Chen and executive director Jeffrey Solares, provided the symphonic foundation.
REP president Mindy Perez-Rubio traced the concept back to her time with the San Francisco Symphony League, where she envisioned merging live theater and orchestral music to inspire young audiences. That vision came to life through BP and MSO’s enthusiastic collaboration.
MSO chair Maan Hontiveros called the night a celebration of creative synergy—the first time the three institutions shared a stage—underscoring orchestral music’s power to enrich ballet and theater.
Closing the evening, BP’s Little Red Riding Hood, choreographed by Mikhail Martynyuk, charmed audiences with its playful grace.
BP president Kathleen Liechtenstein introduced the season theme, Our Stage, The World, honoring artistic legacy, global vision, and community engagement, while celebrating the shared history of these three cultural pillars spanning over two centuries.
Read the full story by Luis Espiritu for Daily Tribunehere.
Tatler Philippines reports that, for the first time in Philippine performing arts history, three of the country’s premier cultural institutions united to present music, drama, and ballet on one stage in a world-class, family-friendly production.
From August 1 to 3 at The Theatre at Solaire, Ballet Philippines, together with Repertory Philippines and Manila Symphony Orchestra, staged two beloved classics—Peter and the Wolf and the full-length ballet Little Red Riding Hood.
The event was more than an artistic milestone; it was also a significant community outreach effort. As part of the program, complimentary seats were offered to families from selected barangays, ensuring that underserved communities could experience the transformative power of live performance.
Visit Tatler Philippines’ Instagram to view the post here.
Lifestyle Asia reports that, for the first time in Philippine performing arts history, three of the country’s premier cultural institutions—Ballet Philippines, Repertory Philippines, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra—shared the stage in a landmark collaboration. Together, their combined artistic legacies span an impressive 213 years.
Held on August 1 at The Theatre at Solaire, the Gala Performance marked the opening of Ballet Philippines’ 56th Season. The evening featured Peter and the Wolf, headlined by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa as guest narrator. Prokofiev’s symphonic tale came to life through MSO’s live orchestral performance and theatrical storytelling.
But the celebration went beyond artistry. In line with Ballet Philippines’ advocacy for cultural accessibility, more than 1,000 free seats were reserved for underserved barangays, military personnel, indigenous communities, and other partner groups. The Manila Symphony Orchestra also welcomed music and non-music students—many experiencing live symphonic music for the first time.
The double bill continued with Ballet Philippines’ Little Red Riding Hood, a classical yet emotionally resonant adaptation of the beloved fable, performed with expressive choreography and rich orchestration.
Branded Three Masters, One Stage, the event not only united three artistic disciplines—ballet, theater, and music—but also showcased the transformative power of collaboration. It was an evening that entertained, educated, and brought together a diverse audience, proving that the arts can bridge communities and generations.
Theater Fans Manila reviews how Repertory Philippines, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and Ballet Philippines interpreted Peter and the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood into a fusion of music, dance, and theater.
In its review, Theater Fans Manila notes that for the first time in the country, Peter and the Wolf stepped beyond music to become a fully realized spectacle of theater, dance, and storytelling. Repertory Philippines (REP), the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), and Ballet Philippines (BP) united for Three Masters, One Stage—a landmark collaboration aimed at captivating young audiences with the magic of the performing arts.
The program featured a dance-theater interpretation of Peter and the Wolf alongside BP’s premiere of Little Red Riding Hood. Both beloved tales share a central theme: a child’s innocence confronted by the cunning of the wild, with adults stepping in to protect and guide.
Read the full review by Marge Enriquez for Theater Fans Manila here.
Three Masters, One Stage brings together ballet, theater, and live orchestra featuring Repertory Philippines, Ballet Philippines, and Manila Symphony Orchestra.
The Busy Queen writes that it was a historic night for Philippine performing arts as three premier cultural institutions—Ballet Philippines (BP), Repertory Philippines (REP), and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO)—joined forces for Three Masters, One Stage, the opening of BP’s 56th Season.
The double bill paired the symphonic tale Peter and the Wolf, with characters brought to life by corresponding instruments, and BP’s full-length ballet Little Red Riding Hood, a whimsical reimagining of Charles Perrault’s classic. Featuring compositions by Sergei Prokofiev, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Edvard Grieg, the production blended live orchestral music, theatrical storytelling, and captivating choreography.
Running August 1–3, 2025 at The Theatre at Solaire, the weekend saw five sold-out shows and six rotating narrators, with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa headlining gala night. Peter and the Wolf charmed audiences with comical characters, while Little Red Riding Hood showcased the versatility of the three companies.
Beyond artistry, the production embodied a strong outreach mission. Over 1,000 free seats were offered to underserved communities, giving families a rare chance to experience world-class performance. The result was a cultural milestone that entertained, educated, and united audiences across generations.
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 Starhere.
In a landmark cultural event, Journal News Online reports on the first-ever collaboration of three of the country’s leading performing arts institutions, uniting music, theater, and dance in reimagined classics “Peter and the Wolf” and “Little Red Riding Hood.”
Journal News Online recently featured a historic collaboration among three Philippine cultural powerhouses — Repertory Philippines, Ballet Philippines, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) — sharing the same stage for the first time last Friday night at The Theater at Solaire.
The evening brought to life reimagined classics Peter and the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood through a seamless blend of music, theater, and dance. The project also had a strong outreach component, with more than a thousand complimentary tickets given to members of the military, police, out-of-school youth, orphans, indigenous peoples, NGOs, and other beneficiaries.
Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev was narrated live by celebrity guests performing pro bono. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa opened the run, with other narrators including Karylle Tatlonghari, Tim Yap, Aiko Thomson-Guevara, Liza Chan-Parpan, and Maanne Hontiveros. The orchestration vividly matched each character — from flute for the bird to French horn for the wolf — under the baton of music director Marlon Chen.
Since Peter and the Wolf runs under 30 minutes, Ballet Philippines complemented it with a classical ballet adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, drawing from music by Camille Saint-Saëns and Edvard Grieg.
This creative fusion was helmed by Repertory Philippines artistic director Jeremy Domingo, with MSO — the country’s oldest orchestra at 99 years — providing the rich musical foundation. The night was dedicated to Sr. Mary Placid, Dean of St. Scholastica’s College of Music, in celebration of artistic synergy and the enduring harmony of Philippine performing arts.
Three cultural powerhouses—REP, BP, and MSO—join forces for Peter and the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood in a milestone production.
For the first time in Philippine performing arts history, three premier cultural institutions unite to bring music, drama, and ballet together in one world-class, family-friendly production.
Repertory Philippines (REP), the country’s foremost theater company, joins Ballet Philippines (BP), the nation’s premier classical and contemporary ballet company, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), one of Asia’s longest-running orchestras, for a double-bill of beloved classics—Peter and the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood.
As noted in Dang Musings, Peter and the Wolf, written by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, assigns each character a distinct orchestral voice. Meanwhile, Little Red Riding Hood, set to the music of Camille Saint-Saëns and Edvard Grieg, offers a playful reimagining of Charles Perrault’s fairy tale, exploring themes of kindness and courage.
Running August 1–3, 2025 at the Theatre at Solaire, the production combines live orchestral music, theatrical storytelling, and exquisite ballet. More than a cultural milestone, it doubles as an outreach initiative—over 1,000 free seats will be offered to families from selected barangays, opening the performing arts to the underserved.
Ballet Philippines Opens Its 56th Season with a Spectacular Gala: Three Masters, One Stage Unites BP, Repertory Philippines, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra.
Jemima Reyes-Ocampo as Little Red Riding Hood with the Wolf, played by Rudolph Capongcol
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.
Rep President & CEO Mindy Perez Rubio, BP President Kathleen Liechtenstein, BP Chairman Antonio O. Cojuangco, and MSO President Maan Hontiveros
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.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa narrates Rep’s musical theater production Peter and the Wolf
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.
MSO’s Maan Hontiveros, Rep’s Mindy Perez Rubio, and BP’s Kathleen Liechtenstein
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.
Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf comes to live with Manila Symphony’s live music, conducted by Maestro Marlon Chen
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.
Menchu Macapagal of NewsWatch Now Sits Down with Repertory Philippines’ Mindy Perez Rubio, Manila Symphony Orchestra’s Maan Hontiveros, and Ballet Philippines’ Kathleen Liechtenstein for Historic Cultural Collaboration as BP Launches 56th Season with Peter and the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood Twin Bill.
Mindy Perez-Rubio of Repertory Philippines, Maan Hontiveros of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and Kathleen Liechtenstein of Ballet Philippines with NewsWatch Now host Menchu Macapagal
NewsWatch Now recently sat down with three leading figures in Philippine arts and culture — Mindy Perez-Rubio of Repertory Philippines, Maan Hontiveros of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and Kathleen Liechtenstein of Ballet Philippines — to uncover how their organizations joined forces for one extraordinary production: Peter and the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood, the opening of Ballet Philippines’ 56th Season.
For the first time, three of the country’s premier cultural institutions are sharing one stage in a rare collaboration that blends theater, symphonic music, and ballet into a family-friendly double bill. Peter and the Wolf, presented by Repertory Philippines, introduces children to classical music through Prokofiev’s iconic score, where each character is represented by a different orchestral instrument. The Manila Symphony Orchestra brings the music to life under the leadership of Maan Hontiveros, offering audiences an immersive live performance.
Following this is Ballet Philippines’ Little Red Riding Hood, choreographed by Artistic Director Misha Martynyuk, which reimagines the classic fairy tale through the expressive language of dance, set to music by Saint-Saëns and Grieg.
In the NewsWatch Now interview, Perez-Rubio, Hontiveros, and Liechtenstein shared their excitement over the collaboration, noting how the fusion of their respective art forms creates an engaging cultural experience for all ages — especially young audiences. They also spoke about the shared vision of making the performing arts more accessible, inspiring, and relevant in today’s fast-paced world.
Running from August 1 to 3, 2025 at The Theatre at Solaire, this production promises to be a feast for the senses and a celebration of Philippine artistry at its finest.
