Three Masters, One Stage opened with an exciting gala night performance featuring narration from 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa.
For the first time in Philippine performing arts history, three of the country’s premier cultural institutions (whose combined artistic legacies span 213 years)— Ballet Philippines, Repertory Philippines, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra—joined forces for a unique, family-friendly double bill.
Held on August 1 at The Theatre at Solaire, the Gala Performance marked the official opening of Ballet Philippines’s 56th Season. It featured a landmark staging of Peter and the Wolf, headlined by none other than 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa, who performed as guest narrator.
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Part I: Peter and the Wolf
This production of Peter and the Wolf was born from Repertory Philippines President and CEO Mindy Perez-Rubio’s desire to combine orchestral music and live theater for young audiences, an idea she ruminated on during a stint at the San Francisco Symphony League.
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 Repertory Philippines’s theatrical staging. The gala performance was dedicated to Sister Mary Placid of St. Scholastica’s School of Music, where many Manila Symphony Orchesta musicians (including the group’s Executive Director Jeffrey Solares and President Maan Hontiveros) received their training.
Part II: Little Red Riding Hood
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 French composer Camille Saint-Saëns and Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, the performance offered a poignant yet playful reimagining of the fairytale brimming with themes of courage, kindness, and emotional discovery.
In her welcome remarks, Ballet Philippines 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—yet circled back to the organization’s endeavors in the Philippines, emphasizing that “home is where our heart beats.”
Hontiveros called the evening a “celebration of creative synergy.” She also reflected on the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s long history of supporting ballet and musical theater, reinforcing how orchestral music enhances both movement and narrative.
The evening wasn’t just a cultural milestone—it was also a celebration of inclusion and access. As part of Ballet Philippines’s long-running advocacy, more than 1,000 free seats were offered to families from underserved barangays, military personnel, indigenous communities, and other partner groups. The Manila Symphony Orchestra also invited music and non-music students, as well as their families—many of whom got to experience live symphonic music for the first time that evening.
More than a set of milestone performances, Three Masters, One Stage was a true artistic collaboration that inspired and educated a diverse audience, showcasing just how much art can bring people together.
Photos courtesy of Ballet Philippines
