ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Arts and Culture devider Celebrating 100 years of the Manila Symphony Orchestra

Celebrating 100 years of the Manila Symphony Orchestra

What to expect from the ensemble's centennial year

Published Jan 12, 2026 10:24 am

At A Glance

  • Founded by Alexander Lippay in 1926, the MSO is considered one of the oldest orchestras in Asia.
EARLY DAYS Members of the Manila Symphony Orchestra pose at the cottage of founder Alexander Lippay in Baguio City on April 77, 1940. (Photo Manila Symphony Orchestra)
EARLY DAYS Members of the Manila Symphony Orchestra pose at the cottage of founder Alexander Lippay in Baguio City on April 77, 1940. (Photo Manila Symphony Orchestra)
A world at war, a global pandemic, and years of an ever-changing music industry are just some of the trials the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has faced in its 100 years of existence, yet it continues to thrive.
Founded by Alexander Lippay in 1926, the MSO is considered one of the oldest orchestras in Asia. Their first performance took place on Jan. 22, 1926, at the Manila Grand Opera House (now the site of the Manila Grand Opera Hotel). Those fortunate enough to have been around the time were treated to a performance of Johannes Brahms’ “Gestillte Sehnsucht (Longing at Rest).” Fast forward to the current day, MSO associate conductor and executive director Jeffrey Solares had the band performing it yet again as part of a special teaser for its upcoming centennial celebration.
UPHOLDING THE CRAFT Members of the Manila Symphony Orchestra show eagerness for the year-long centennial concert series.
UPHOLDING THE CRAFT Members of the Manila Symphony Orchestra show eagerness for the year-long centennial concert series.
Aside from Brahms, the afternoon was also accompanied by pieces from greats like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Georges Bizet, Nicanor Abelardo, and Ryan Cayabyab. For the operatic treatment of Bizet’s “Habanera,” the crowd was treated with a localized version performed by 2025 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition grand winner Michelle Mariposa. Meanwhile, soprano Rachelle Gerodias gave a stellar performance of Nicanor’s kundiman classic “Mutya ng Pasig.”
To commemorate its centennial celebration, the MSO will be having a series of concerts throughout the year. Starting things off in March, the MSO will be opening it up with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Sleeping Beauty” alongside Ballet Manila. It will be conducted by Alexander Vikulov and is set to take place at the Aliw Theater from March 13 to 16. Next up is a performance focusing on the rising stars of the Philippines at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati, on May 30. Violinist Jeanne Marquez and cellist Damodar Das Castillo, under conductor Joshua Dos Santos, are set to perform Brahms’ “Double Concerto in A minor.” Next is “Symphony of a Nation: 100 Years of Music, 80 Years of Fil-Am Friendship” on July 4, featuring violinist John Villarin and conductor Thanos Adomopoulous. On Aug. 29, the MSO will be at the Far Eastern University Auditorium for its fourth concert, “Legacies in Song: MSO’s 100 Years and the Voice of Conching Rosal,” with special performances by soprano Rachelle Gerodias-Park, mezzo-soprano Michelle Mariposa, and baritone Byeong In Park. Marlon Chen is set to conduct. Next up, on Oct. 24, the MSO will be at the Hyundai Hall of Ateneo de Manila University’s Areté for its fifth concert, “Philippine Master Composers, Past, Present, and Future,” featuring new works by Ryan Cayabyab. Finally, a grand centennial finale is expected to take place next year in January, with details yet to be announced.
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.