Reyma Deveza

Ballet Philippines, Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and Repertory Philippines. Handout

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

<p>MANILA -- Having the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), Repertory Philippines and Ballet Philippines (BP) in one stage in a family-friendly performance for a cause is a “dream come true” for Maanne Hontiveros, president of the MSO.</p><p>“As you can see, I made the right choice in finding somebody who could bring Ballet Philippines to where it is today,” Hontiveros told ABS-CBN News. “May May [Kathleen Lior-Liechtenstein] is definitely the best president Ballet Philippines could ever have.</p><p>“But today is very special for me because this collaboration with three masters is also personal for me. I was with the original Repertory Philippines group with Bibot Amador, Baby Barredo and Leo Martinez.</p><p>“I spent many happy years in Repertory where I got a lot of my future training, then I joined Ballet Philippines. Years later, I had a battle with breast cancer and I knew stress was the main course of it.</p><p>“So I took a sabbatical from work and I went back to school to study music. I felt that music would heal me.”</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751870707108IMG_0501 (1).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px" alt="Ballet Philippines, Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and Repertory Philippines "/><span class="fr-inner">Ballet Philippines, Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and Repertory Philippines </span></span></span> Hontiveros went back to her school at St. Scholastica’s College for her Bachelor of Music and found an “excellent” teacher in Jeffrey Solares, the executive director of the MSO, who taught her music theory and history.</div><p>Solares later lured Hontiveros to the MSO, which was, at that time, a resident of St. Scholastica’s College. “It has been a wonderful journey ever since because I had the chance to work with the best artists and companies.”</p><p>Ballet Philippines was represented at the recent launch by artistic director Mikhail Martynyuk, and Rep by artistic direcxtor Jeremy Domingo, noting that this “groundbreaking event” marks the first time for three three companies to collaborate on one show.</p><p>“This really symbolizes where our entertainment industry is headed,” Domingo said. “The pandemic deprived artists of our livelihood and any live performance. We had no idea if we ever get a chance to perform and watch again.</p><p>“I think we all returned with a vengeance. There were at least five or six performances in a week. There were theater plays, musical, ballets, concerts.</p><p>“This production that unites Ballet Philippines, the Manila Symphony Orchestra and Repertory Philippines, brings us into the future, acknowledging that one world is enough for all of us.”</p><p>The three artistic companies will present a double bill of two classic tales -- the symphonic tale for children, “Peter and the Wolf” and the full-length ballet, “Little Red Riding Hood.”</p><p>Written by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, “Peter and the Wolf” is a musical theater dance drama, an introduction of symphonic music to children.</p><p>Interestingly, 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.</p><p>The MSO did a quasi-improvised performance to present excerpts with the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) winner Pauline Aguila on the piano, the principal flutist of the MSO Lolong Mateo, and Liza Chan-Parpan as the narrator.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751870746728IMG_0507 (1).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px" alt="Repertory Philippines artistic director Jeremy Domingo (extreme left), Ballet Philippines president Kathleen Lior-Liechtenstein (center), Ballet Philippines artistic director Mikhail Martynyuk and Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) president Maane Hontiveros -- with dancers Jemima Reyes as Little Red Riding Hood and Rudolph Capongcol as the Wolf."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Repertory Philippines artistic director Jeremy Domingo (extreme left), Ballet Philippines president Kathleen Lior-Liechtenstein (center), Ballet Philippines artistic director Mikhail Martynyuk and Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) president Maane Hontiveros -- with dancers Jemima Reyes as Little Red Riding Hood and Rudolph Capongcol as the Wolf.</span></span></span>Meanwhile, the ballet “Little Red Riding Hood” features the work of French conductor Camille Saint-Saens and Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.</div><p>The playful reimagination of the classic fairy tale by Charles Perrault follows the adventures of a little girl who discovers the power of kindness.</p><p>“We will present musical theater with movement, narration, something unique that the audience haven’t seen before,” Domingo said. “It will give way to a beautiful, original ballet that Misha brings together. The highlight of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ is the symphony.”</p><p>The collaboration is in line with Repertory Philippines’ acting workshop.</p><p>“This is what I call ‘ambitious’,” said BP&#x27;s Liechtenstein. “Back in 2021, we were targeting to present a bigger play, but it never happened. But it never stopped us from dreaming.</p><p>“I want all these entertainment to level up. We are not going to cut corners. ‘Peter and the Wolf’ will really be with ballerinas. They are actually going to undergo workshops to know how to act. That’s the challenge for BP. If they want aerial dancing, we will also do it.”</p><p>Liechtenstein announced Ballet Philippines will give out 1,000 free tickets  to indigenous children and men in uniform.</p><p>“Our heart is through our outreach programs,” Liechtenstein said. “We will never be Ballet Philippines without our outreach program. When we did ‘Peter Pan’ last time, we had the aetas who watched the ballet.</p><p>“It’s a very, very interesting concept. Even the men in uniform, the officers and soldiers, watch the performances. We are very proud of that. MSO are having their beneficiaries come in for free also.”</p><p>Domingo acknowledged it has been such a privilege to collaborate with Liechtenstein, Solares and Martynyuk. “This is the beginning of a wonderful friendship,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>&quot;Peter and the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood&#x27; runs from August 1 to 3 with five performances at The Theater at Solaire.</em></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y4WAcUnWhuA?&amp;pp=0gcJCcEJAYcqIYzvautoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hChaegHxff8?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5EOkUcYKDas?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>For the first time, Ballet Philippines, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and Repertory Philippines come together on one stage to present a family-friendly double bill of '<i>Peter and the Wolf'</i> and '<i>Little Red Riding Hood</i>.'</p>

For the first time, Ballet Philippines, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and Repertory Philippines come together on one stage to present a family-friendly double bill of ' Peter and the Wolf' and ' Little Red Riding Hood .'

Rep, Ballet Philippines, MSO join forces for landmark family show

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Rep, Ballet Philippines, MSO join forces for landmark family show

Leah C. Salterio

Published July 07, 2025 06:00 PM PHT

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Manila Symphony Orchestra

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