A concert, a cause and a century of music: inside ‘The Magic of Christmas’

Villanueva, speaking on the MSO’s longevity, offered a perspective on its national status: “It’s a history slowly intertwined with our nation’s history, suffering through the war, rising through the ashes.” She further reinforced the necessity of community backing: “Maan Hontiveros, as president of the MSO, always reminds everyone that it takes a village to support and sustain an orchestra and its musicians.”

MSO trustee Ana de Villa Singson shared that the institution’s longevity is itself a phenomenon, acknowledging that sustained classical music initiatives demand constant support. “The very fact that we’re here after one hundred years and flourishing is very magical,” she said. The evening’s objective was to make fine music accessible—sharing a feeling of hope and transformation with the audience.

Maestro Marlon Chen, instrumental in shaping the orchestra’s current identity, brought a clear sensibility to the programming. As MSO executive director Jeffrey Solares noted, maestro Chen’s leadership has focused on “updating us with the tastes of the new generation,” a necessary approach for a legacy product like the MSO.

The concert programme was designed as two halves. The first half was wholly instrumental, commencing with the swift Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla by Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka. This led to selections from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite. The introduction of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra proved a high point, particularly in the Violin Concerto (3rd Movement) by Felix Mendelssohn, featuring soloists Eliana Mariano, Lois Quitane, Vittorio Vizcocho, Maura Medina, Imy Coming and Sharlette Saluta. Singson highlights this as a magical instance: “It’s the first time the 10-year-olds will be doing solo violin.” The instrumental portion concluded with popular seasonal favourites Let It Snow and Winter Wonderland.

The second half showcased the MSO alongside Kammerchor Manila, the award-winning choral ensemble. The focus shifted to festive pieces, including John Williams’ Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and notable Filipino works. Kammerchor Manila performed George Frideric Handel’s Soulful Hallelujah (arranged by Mervin Warren, Michael O Jackson and Mark Kibble) and John Buchinno’s Better Than I (arranged by Anthony Go Villanueva). The programme paid deserved respect to National Artist Ryan Cayabyab through his arrangements of A Christmas Carol, Munting Sanggol and Kumukutikutitap. Other Filipino favourites included Felipe Padilla De Leon’s Pasko Na Naman and Francis Dandan’s Pasko Na Sinta Ko.

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Solares and Singson praised the historical fit, noting orchestral music’s origins in the church. Villanueva, who chose Fort Bonifacio City’s St Michael the Archangel Parish Church as the venue to anchor the event in the community, added that the setting perfectly harmonises the roots of the music with the spirit of Christmas.

Related: Manila Symphony Orchestra embarks on its momentous “Road to 100”

Corporate and cultural patronage remains essential to this work. Presented by GCash and co-presented by Ayala Land Inc, Globe Telecom, Novare and, of course, Friends of Nena, the alliances directly support the mission of training future musicians. Singson stated frankly that the MSO “will not survive without private partnerships and sponsors.”

The concert ended with an encore of Vicente Rubi’s Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, arranged by Ryan Cayabyab. For Villanueva, the event was not merely a performance, but the realisation of a distinct vision—a way to offer support to the community and to the nation’s musical future. 

With plans to make this an annual tradition, culminating perhaps in a gala for the MSO’s 100th anniversary, the feeling the audience carried home was one of genuine optimism and anticipation for better days to come.

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