On 27 September, the Aliw Theater in Pasay City will come alive with the sweeping melodies of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) presents Dancing with Tchaikovsky. The evening performance, starting at 7:30 p.m., is presented by the MSO Foundation Inc. and Standard Insurance, in partnership with EastWest Bank.

The program will feature three of the Russian composer’s celebrated works. The Festival Coronation March (1883), written for the coronation of Tsar Alexander III, will open the concert with triumphant brass fanfares and regal grandeur. Also included is The Variations on a Rococo Theme (1877), a lyrical homage to Mozart, balancing grace, virtuosity, and soaring melodies. Finally, the Sleeping Beauty Suite (1889) will bring the magic of the ballet stage to the concert hall, with its elegant waltzes and enchanting character dances.

Guiding the MSO for this concert is Russian guest conductor Alexander Vikulov, a maestro whose international career has brought him to the Vienna State Opera, Finnish National Opera, Seoul Arts Center, and Teatro Regio di Torino. Joining him is cello prodigy Damodar Das Castillo, an MSJO–Standard Insurance scholar and top prizewinner in major competitions across Europe, including in Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Vienna.

Founded in 1926 by Alexander Lippay, the Manila Symphony Orchestra is not only the Philippines’ oldest but also one of Asia’s longest surviving orchestras. Over the decades, it has shared the stage with international legends and premier Filipino composers, among them Antonio Molina, Antonino Buenaventura, Lucio San Pedro, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, and Ryan Cayabyab. Today, under music director Marlon Chen and associate conductor Jeffrey Solares, the MSO continues its mission of excellence and education, bringing symphonic music to wider audiences while nurturing young Filipino talent.

Ticket prices are P3,500 (VIP); P2,800 (Premium Patron); P2,000 (Regular Patron A); P1,500 (Regular Patron B); P1,000 (General Admission A); and P650 (General Admission B), with discounts available for students, seniors, PWDs, and early bird buyers. Reservations may be made via Ticketworld.