HappeningPH Orchestra! Why Manila Can’t Miss This One Night of Pure Russian Romanticism: DANCING WITH TCHAIKOVSKY on Sept 27, Aliw Theater

Dancing with Tchaikovsky 

September 27, 2025 (Saturday) 

7:30 PM 

Aliw Theater, Pasay City 

Presented by the MSO Foundation Inc. and Standard Insurance, in partnership with EastWest Bank, Tchaikovsky’s timeless melodies come to life in this concert,  featuring the Festival Coronation March, Rococo Variations for Cello and  Orchestra, and a suite from the ballet Sleeping Beauty. MSJO-Standard Insurance  scholar and cello prodigy Damodar Das Castillo will join guest conductor  Alexander Vikulov for this evening of Russian Romanticism.

REPERTOIRE 

The Coronation March 

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Festival Coronation March (1883), written for Tsar  Alexander III’s coronation, brims with ceremonial flair through brass fanfares,  festive rhythms, and a controversial quote from “God Save the Tsar.” Composed  in just weeks, it has since reached global stages, including the opening of Carnegie  Hall in 1891, showcasing Tchaikovsky’s gift for music that is both majestic and  appealing.

Rococo Variations for Cello 

Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme (1877) pays homage to Mozart’s  classical elegance through a graceful theme and seven contrasting variations.  Demanding both lyricism and virtuosity, it challenges the soloist with soaring  melodies, rapid passagework, and intricate cadenzas, making it a cornerstone of  the cello repertoire.

Sleeping Beauty Dance Suite 

Sleeping Beauty Suite (1889) by Tchaikovsky captures the magic of his ballet of the  same title, through a series of orchestral highlights, blending graceful waltzes,  lyrical adagios, and character dances. Renowned for its lush orchestration and  melodic charm, the suite captures both the elegance of courtly dance and the fairy

tale magic that make Sleeping Beauty one of his most enduring stage works.

GUEST ARTISTS 

Alexander Vikulov, Russian guest conductor 

Born in Saint Petersburg to renowned ballet dancers Sergey Vikulov and Tatiana  Udalenkova, Alexander Vikulov has built an international career that bridges opera,  ballet, and symphonic music. Since his 2002 Mariinsky Theater debut with Mozart’s  Le Nozze di Figaro, he has conducted at the Vienna State Opera, Finnish National  Opera, Seoul Arts Center, Teatro Regio di Torino, and the Cultural Center of the  Philippines. Currently permanent guest conductor of the Saint Petersburg State  Symphony Orchestra “Klassika” and musical director at Manila’s Star and Aliw  Theaters, Vikulov continues to unite cultures through the universal language of  music.

Damodar Das Castillo, cello 

A top prizewinner of five international competitions including The Young Musician  (Tallinn, 2019), the International Anton Rubinstein Competition (Düsseldorf, 2020),  The Young Ludwig Competition (Berlin, 2020), the Vienna International Music  Competition (2020), and Musica Goritiensis (Italy, 2021), Damodar Das Castillo is  one of the most promising young cellists today. He studied at the Pre-College of  Mozarteum University Salzburg under Prof. Barbara Lübke-Herzl and, as a scholar  of the MSJO–Standard Insurance International Scholarship Program, he performs  on a George Gerl cello.

The Manila Symphony Orchestra 

The Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), founded in 1926 by Alexander Lippay, is  one of Asia’s oldest orchestras and the Philippines’ longest surviving artistic  institution. A symbol of resistance during World War II, the MSO has since  collaborated with legends under the batons of Andre Kostelanetz, Arthur Fiedler,  Mendi Rodan, Robert Feist, Gareth Nair, Helen Quach, and Eduard Strauss II. Antonio Molina, Antonino Buenaventura, Lucio San Pedro, Ernani Cuenco, Levi  Celerio, and Ryan Cayabyab have also graced its stage.

Now nearing its 100th year in 2026, the MSO remains one of the country’s most  active artistic institutions, presenting world-class performances and nurturing  young Filipino talent under Marlon Chen (Music Director) and Jeffrey Solares (Associate Conductor).

TICKETS: 

VIP P3500

Premium Patron P2800

Regular Patron A P2000

Regular Patron B P1500

General Admission A P1000

General Admission B P650

Reserve your tickets via Ticketworld:

50% off for Students 

Use the code: TCHAIKOVSKYSTUDENT50 

Please present valid IDs upon entry

20% off for Seniors and PWDs

Use the code: TCHAIKOVSKYMSO20 

Please present valid IDs upon entry

20% off Early Bird Promo!

Use the code: TCHAIKOVSKYEB20 

Code Validity: Until September 15, 11:59 PM

Early Bird Offer Ends on September 15, 2025 Monday 11:59PM

UPCOMING SHOWS 

“The MSO 100th Anniversary Concert” 

January 22, 2026

Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati Muyu Liu, piano

Philippine Madrigal Singers

Darrell Ang, guest conductor

SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS 

Follow The Manila Symphony Orchestra on social media: YouTube – Manila Symphony Orchestra

Facebook – Manila Symphony Orchestra

Instagram – @manila.symphony

TikTok – @manilasymphonyorchestra

Website – www.manilasymphony.com

#ManilaSymphonyOrchestra #MSO #DancingWithTchaikovsky #Season99 #MSORoadTo100

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