It’s almost December.
Here once more is the happiest month of the year and what better way to celebrate it than by watching the
best dance and music treat you can all enjoy during the Yule Season.
For November 30 and December 1 at the Samsung Theater for Performing Arts, both kids and seasoned
balletomanes can enjoy the perennial Christmas favorite, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. It is mounted by the Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT) which is one of two resident companies of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines.
The Nutcracker is presented by Philippine Ballet Theater which will relive a night of pure Yule magic in a
world of sugar plum fairies and dancing toy soldiers.
Danseur Mathew Davo is PBT’s resident prince and Clara’s holiday hero. Sugar Plum Fairy in a role debut is Gabrielle Jaynario who is described as “sugary sweet on and off stage and that her lightness of movement will take your breath away.”
Dancing one of the lead roles is Sophie Tiangco who will reprise the innocence and wonder of Yule kid Clara.
(Get your tickets at Philippine Ballet Theatre secretariat@pbt.org.ph or call 09688708887.)
On December 4 and 5, violinist Alessio Benvenuti is the featured soloist in the MSO concert called The
Majesty of Christmas: A Yule Concert. Program includes Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (“Winter”).
Featured soloist is soprano Angeli Benipayo. Venue is the St. Michael The Archangel Church located at 1928 10th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City. Funds raised through this concert will help sustain the Manila
Symphony Orchestra’s mission to inspire and nurture future generations of musicians while bringing world-
class performances and educational programs to the public. (Secure tickets at https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx…)
Running at Solaire Theater December 6,7 and 8 is the reimagined version of the classic tale Peter Pan with a totally revised libretto, original music, sets and brand-new choreography.
Ballet Philippines president Kathleen Liechtenstein said the production offers something entirely new while
still preserving the heartwarming essence of the familiar story. “We are gearing up towards entertainment value. We aim to get the highest for that and expect more families to enjoy, come, and celebrate Christmas together with the entire family still within the context of Filipino culture and tradition.”
Ballet Philippines artistic director Mikhail Martynyuk emphasized that the new production represents a unique interpretation of classical ballet. “Peter Pan is absolutely classical ballet. This is my new version and interpretation. This is really new ballet for our dancers,” he said.
The production will transport viewers to Neverland, a magical realm that transcends cultural boundaries while celebrating the universal themes of childhood, imagination, and community. It embodies the joy and
wonder that everyone shares in the Philippines where family and togetherness are at the heart of the country’s culture.
(For tickets, visit the website, http://www.ballet.ph, or purchase tickets through http://www.ticketworld.com.ph)
Over in New York City on December 5, the country’s national treasure Cecile Licad returns to Carnegie Hall in a solo recital. Her program includes Scriabin’s Two Impromptus, Op. 12, Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Beach’s
“Hermit Trush at Eve,” Op. 92 No 1, Schelling Nocturne, “Ragusa” and Ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso including selected works by Joplin. Licad is slated to do a national outreach tour in the Philippines in March 2025.
(Tickets for the Dec. 5 Carnegie Hall recital of Cecile Licad can be purchased online at https://www.carnegiehall.org and at the Box Office at 57th Street and 7th Avenue. Student and Senior tickets are available at the Box Office.)
On December 6 at the Samsung Theater for Performing Arts, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Grzegorz Nowak mounts its last orchestral offering for the year with a program consisting of Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Saint Saens’ Violin Concerto No.3, Op.61 in B minor and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5 Op.64 in E minor.
Soloist in the Saint-Saens cello concerto is violinist Diomedes Saraza who is soloist in Sibelius violin concerto.
December 9 at the Ayala Museum is the Philippine debut of American pianist Jonathan Biss in a solo recital.
The all-Schubert program includes Impromptu in f minor, D. 935 no. 1; Impromptu in B flat Major, D. 935
- 3; Piano Sonata in A Major D.959 and the Philippine premiere of Alvin Singleton Bed-Stuy Sonata.
Biss reveals his Schubert connection thus: “Schubert has become central to my life in the last few years. There is a combination of grandeur and terrible loneliness in his music that is unique, and moving in the extreme. The more I work on his music, the more layers I see in it – at first, the sheer beauty masks some of the more complicated qualities. Living with him has been one of the great gifts to my life.”
(For tickets, call CAEO at 0920-9540053, 0918-3473027 or email at josephuy2004@yahoo.com).
After her Dec. 4 engagement with MSO, soprano Angeli Benipayo is the next attraction at MiraNila on December 22 with pianist Gabriel Allan Pagurigan.
Venue address is 26 Mariposa St. Cubao, Quezon City.
On December 31 at the Solaire Grand Ballroom, Lea Salonga welcomes the New Year with Martin Nievera and Bituin Escalante. 7:30 p.m. onwards.
(Early bird price starts at P13,888. Ticket details at https://sec.solaireresort.com/offers/entertainment/stars-
collide-the-solaire-nye-party)
Merry Christmas!