The Manila Symphony Orchestra formally begins its Centennial Season by joining forces with Ballet Manila with the staging of the ballet Sleeping Beauty happening on March 13-15, 2026 at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex in Pasay.
Ballet Manila's Sleeping Beauty features the choreography of Lisa Macuja Elizalde, the company's Artistic Director and CEO Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and is the final installment of her Princess Trilogy following Cinderella and Snow White.
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| Shapira Drapete and Joshua Enciso |
The music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky will be brought to life by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Alexander Vikulov. The MSO, BM, and Vikulov have been frequent collaborators since 2011.
Music highlights of the ballet include the Rose Adagio and the popular Waltz known to most as Once Upon a Dream from the animated feature by Disney. Both the Tchaikovsky music, completed in 1899, and the ballet, premiered in 1890, predate by six decades the Disney adaptation that was released in 1959.
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| Alexander Vikulov |
Another music highlight to look out for is Aurora's Variation featuring a special violin passage to be performed by MSO's concertmaster Alessio Benvenuti.
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| Manila Symphony Orchestra |
Below is Manila Symphony Orchestra's updated Centennial Season Lineup.
Concert I: Centennial Opening: Sleeping Beauty
March 13-15, 2026
Aliw Theater
Ballet Manila
Alexander Vikulov, conductor
Concert II: From Mozart to Mahler
May 30, 2026
Proscenium Theater
Emanuel John Villarin, violin
Christian Wrona, viola
Joshua Dos Santos, conductor
Concert III: Concert Celebration: 80 Years of Filipino-American Friendship
July 4, 2026
Metropolitan Theater
Jeanne Marquez, violin
Jason Marquez, clarinet
Jose Lorenzo Reyna, Jr., conductor
Concert IV: Opera and Kundiman: The Legacy of Maestra Conching Rosal
August 29, 2026
FEU Auditorium
Rachelle Gerodias-Park, soprano
Michelle Mariposa, mezzo-soprano
Byeong In Park, baritone
Marlon Chen, conductor
Concert V: Cellist Camille Thomas with the MSO
October 24, 2026
Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University
Camille Thomas, cello
Marlon Chen, conductor
Concert VI: World Premiere: Filipino Master Composers
January 2027
Venue: TBA
New works by Ryan Cayabyab
Marlon Chen, conductor