FEU presents Pundaquit Virtuosi's Seven Last Words Lenten performance

The FEU Center for the Arts (FCA) continues its Tutti Concert Series with Tutti Strings, featuring the Pundaquit Virtuosi from Zambales in a special Lenten performance of The Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ by Joseph Haydn. Presented in partnership with the FEU Campus Ministry, this free concert will take place on March 31 at 5 PM at the FEU Chapel, offering the Tamaraw community a moving musical reflection in preparation for Holy Week.

Adding a unique dimension to the performance, each of the Seven Last Words will be accompanied by a short reflection delivered by representatives from the FEU Community.

Pundaquit Virtuosi

Founded in the quiet coastal village of Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, the Pundaquit Virtuosi is led by internationally renowned Filipino violinist Coke Bolipata. Through his vision, music education has become accessible to children in the community, transforming lives and nurturing young talents through classical training and performance opportunities. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a respected ensemble known for its heartfelt performances and advocacy for arts education.

Reflecting on the significance of the featured piece, Bolipata shares, “Haydn’s Seven Last Words is a rare piece of music: one that invites stillness. It does not dramatize Christ’s suffering so much as meditates on it.”

Composed in 1786, Joseph Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Christ is a deeply contemplative masterpiece originally written for Good Friday services in Cádiz, Spain. The work consists of seven sonatas, each reflecting one of Christ’s final utterances on the Cross, framed by a solemn introduction and a powerful concluding movement. Revered for its emotional depth and spiritual intensity, the piece invites listeners into quiet meditation through expressive melodies and profound musical storytelling.

Stations of the Cross by Carlos "Botong" Francisco

The concert is open to all but with limited seats available through pre-registration via the QR code on the poster or the registration link below.

Interested attendees may also contact the FEU Center for the Arts through its official platforms for further inquiries.

FEU Chapel

Registration Link:

https://forms.office.com/r/Tb3m5a9W49

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/FEUcenterfortheArts

Email:

fca@feu.edu.ph

ARDP brings Tales of the Manuvu to Proscenium at Rockwell

After a well received one weekend run at UP Diliman last February, Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (ARDP) brings the Tales of the Manuvu at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati this March 28-29, 2026.

Presented in collaboration with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and with the generous support of Pinay In Action, ARDP's Tales of the Manuvu is the country's first ever rock opera ballet that premiered at the CCP back in 1977.

Telling the creation story of the Manobo tribe in Mindanao, Tales of the Manuvu is choreographed by Alice Reyes, National Artist for Dance from the libretto written by Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature. OPM icon Dero Pedero composed the music with the rock band Afterbirth providing additional music.

Photo ©Erica Jacinto

As a rock opera ballet, the production features a powerhouse ensemble of singers and dancers, continuing the tradition of featuring live vocalists and a rock band alongside technical brilliance. The original staging boasted a who's who of Philippine theater and music with the casting of Boy Camara, Anthony Castelo, Haji Alejandro, Celeste Legaspi, and Leah Navarro who made her debut with this production.

For the 2026 restaging, the singers include Joshua Cadeliña, alternating with versatile theater artist Adonis Villanueva for the role of Manama/First Man; international a cappella sensation Almond Bolante and distinguished baritone Greg De Leon sharing the role of Ogassi; Christy Lagapa and Toni Carm Santos alternating the role of First Woman; and the UP Concert Chorus returning as the ensemble continuing an almost 50 year tradition.

ARDP dancers taking on the lead roles include John Ababon, alternating with Renzen Arboleda for Manama and Earl John Arisola and seasoned choreographer/dance artist Erl Sorilla sharing the role of Ogassi. Renzen Arboleda and James Galarpe alternate for the First Man while Krislynne Buri and Francine Beltran alternate dancing the First Woman.

Photo ©Erica Jacinto

The 2026 production is restaged by ARDP Ballet Master Lester Reguindin. This iteration features new set and costume designs by award-winning director and designer Loy Arcenas, and lighting design by Barbara Tan-Tiongco.

The March 28, 2026, 8:00 PM performance is a fund raising gala that will be a direct investment in the future of ARDP, providing vital support for our dancers and the preservation of the works of National Artists like Alice Reyes and Agnes Locsin.

Regular performances are set on March 29, 2026 with a matinee at 2:00 PM and an evening performance at 6:00 PM.

All proceeds from ticket sales will cover production expenses and provide essential financial support to ARDP dancers, musicians, and the artists involved in bringing this epic production to life. By purchasing tickets, patrons directly contribute to sustaining the legacy of Filipino dance and supporting the livelihoods of dedicated performing artists.

British soprano Katerina Mina headlines PPO Concert VII: Opera

As the ballet and opera world continue to react to Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet's now infamous remarks about not wanting to work in ballet or opera because no one cares about them anymore, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra gives more than enough reason to care with its upcoming opera themed concert happening on March 13, 2026, 7:30 PM at the Metropolitan Theater.

Billed as Opera, the seventh installment of the PPO's 41st season sees British soprano Katerina Mina headlining the concert performing opera arias by Giuseppe Verdi (Pace, pace mio dio from La forza del destino), Umberto Giordano (La mamma morta from Andrea Chénier), and Giacomo Puccini (Vissi d'arte from Tosca). She will also perform Angel of Fire, which is her poetry set to music by composer Stephan Hodel.

Katerina Mina

Angel of Fire is also the title of Katerina Mina's 2018 album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, who is currently the PPO's music director and principal conductor. The title track and all the arias in the concert program are part of the album that has been presented to King Charles of Britain.

Born in Cyprus and based in London, Mina is a prizewinning artist renowned for her powerful stage presence and wide-ranging repertoire, from Verdi and Puccini to Wagner and contemporary works. She recently starred in the world premiere of Three Women and has performed leading roles in classic operas, including Turandot, Tosca, Brünnhilde, and Isolde.

Mina’s vocal performances through the years drew raves from various critics, citing her “deeply passionate vocal sound,” having “added layers of depth and visualisation to the work that any singer coming after her will be hard put to replicate…”, with a “mature voice that has a given place in any Music Hall. Critics praise her as “one of those clear-as-a-bell soprano voices, displayed with great charm to the top of the register, and with generous volume.”

A versatile concert performer, Mina has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cyprus Symphony, and other orchestras across Europe, Japan, and Mexico. Mentored by British dramatic soprano Susan Bullock, Mina has received the Stockholm Culture Award in recognition of her contributions to opera.

Grzegorz Nowak

The concert will also feature Verdi's Overture to La forza del destino as well as Jeffrey Ching's Ring Symphony, a large-scale orchestral work based on Richard Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelung cycle.

The previously announced world premiere performance of Jerry Dadap's Symphony No. 5 The Wrath of Prakṛti (nature) & Ragatmika-Bhakti (devotion) will be programmed for next season.

The PPO will also have an Opera Cosplay Challenge inviting audience goers to dress up inspired by any opera and/or ballet or as an orchestra musician for a chance to win merchandise and tickets to the PPO's season finale concert. Or just to let Timothée Chalamet know that people still care about ballets, operas, and orchestras. Complete mechanics can be seen at the PPO's social media pages.

Manila Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Manila present joint season opener with Sleeping Beauty

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.

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.

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.

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