For three days only, 1 to 3 August, fans of ballet and symphony will be treated to a unique artistic and cultural show, Peter and The Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood, at The Theatre at Solaire.
An exciting collaboration between three of the country’s premier cultural institutions — Ballet Philippines, Repertory Philippines, and Manila Symphony Orchestra — the show, which is designed for families with small kids, will be a mix of music, drama and dance.
Ballet Philippines (BP) is the country’s premier classical and contemporary dance company. Repertory Philippines (REP) is the country’s foremost theater company and purveyor of world-class productions and theater talents. Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is a renowned and long-running orchestra in Asia.
What to expect
It’s a twin bill that features Peter and the Wolf, led by REP, and Little Red Riding Hood, staged by BP. The entire show is pegged as a “musical theater dance drama.” There won’t be any singing or traditional dialogue, apart from narration in Little Red Riding Hood. It’s an introduction to symphonic music for children.
In the 30-minute Peter and the Wolf, a children’s piece by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, each character is represented by a corresponding instrument in the orchestra: the bird by a flute, the duck by an oboe, the cat by a clarinet, the grandfather by a bassoon, the wolf by horns, and Peter by the strings. It’s an introduction to symphonic and classical music for children.
The cast will feature a mix of theater actors and ballet dancers. Six performers will portray the human characters — Elian Santos as Peter, four hunters (including Shahein"Shay" Abraham, Don Rivera, Rolando Inocencio) and the grandfather (Zack Flynn) — while BP dancers will take on the roles of the principal animals: the wolf, duck, bird, and cat. An ensemble of six to eight core dancers will complete the cast.
Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize winner, will narrate the Friday 8 p.m. gala performance. Karylle Tatlonghari, singer-actress and veteran of the REP stage, will narrate the Sunday 2 p.m. show. Tim Yap, media personality and former REP actor, will narrate the Sunday 7 p.m. finale. Akiko Thomson-Guevara will narrate the Saturday 2 p.m. show. Liza Chan-Parpan will narrate the Saturday 7 p.m. show.
The second part of the show presents Little Red Riding Hood, a 40-minute ballet choreographed by Ballet Philippines artistic director Misha Martynyuk. Set to the music of French composer Camille Saint-Saëns and Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, this ballet offers a lively and imaginative retelling of the well-known fairy tale by Charles Perrault.
Five shows only
Running for five performances only from 1 August (8 p.m.), 2 and 3 August (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.), the production offers a culturally enriching experience for all ages, with live orchestral music, theatrical storytelling, and choreography.
Students have special ticket rates at a 50 percent discount for the 3 August Sunday, 7 p.m. show by using the promo code PETERAUG37PMSTUDENT50 at Ticketworld.
Tickets are priced at P4,107 (Orchestra Center), P3,347.50 (Orchestra Sides), P2,410.20 (Orchestra Back), P2,008.50 (Premium Gold), P1,071.20 (Balcony 1), and P803.40 (Balcony 2). Tickets are available via Ticketworld.