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Ballet Philippines opened its historic 56th season last Friday, 1 August, at The Theatre at Solaire.
Maria Ressa lent her voice to Repertory Philippines’ (REP) Peter and the Wolf, as Ballet Philippines (BP), REP and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) came together in a rare artistic union.
Three masters, one stage — it was a gala evening of art, music and movement that brought together BP, REP and MSO for a captivating show designed for audiences of all ages.
Opening the evening was REP’s Peter and the Wolf, brought to life by artistic director Jeremy Domingo and choreographer PJ Rebullida. Narrated by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ressa, the piece seamlessly wove storytelling and symphonic richness, led by MSO under Maestro Marlon Chen, with Jeffrey Solares as Executive Director.
Repertory Philippines president and chief executive officer Mindy Perez-Rubio shared that the inspiration for this production traces back to her time with the San Francisco Symphony League, where she envisioned merging live theater and orchestral music to engage young audiences. That long-held dream took shape through this collaboration with BP and MSO — both of them, she noted, embraced the idea wholeheartedly.
Maan Hontiveros, MSO chair, described the evening as a true celebration of creative synergy — the first time MSO, BP and REP shared one stage. She reflected on MSO’s enduring legacy in both ballet and theater, emphasizing how orchestral music enriches storytelling and brings every performance to life.
BP’s Little Red Riding Hood, choreographed by artistic director Mikhail Martynyuk, closed the evening with whimsical grace and storytelling.
In her welcome remarks, BP president Kathleen Liechtenstein introduced the season’s theme, “Our Stage, The World” — a tribute to artistic legacy, global vision and meaningful community engagement.
She also highlighted the significance of the evening’s partnership, uniting BP, REP and MSO — three cultural pillars whose collective histories span over two centuries of Philippine performing arts.
