MSO Centennial Concert III: LIBERATION Marks 80 Years of the Philippine Republic at the Metropolitan Theater
Manila Concerts
Some concerts are programmed around an occasion. Others return to the historical thread that makes the occasion matter.
For the third concert of its Centennial Season, the Manila Symphony Orchestra is doing the latter.
On Saturday, July 4, 2026, the MSO brings LIBERATION: 80 Years of the Philippine Republic to the Manila Metropolitan Theater. The concert looks back to the first days of the Philippine Republic while bringing together Filipino and American music that reflects eight decades of artistic exchange, cultural connection, and friendship.
What to Know About MSO Centennial Concert III: LIBERATION
Concert: MSO Centennial Concert III - LIBERATION: 80 Years of the Philippine Republic
Theme: 80 years of the Philippine Republic and Filipino-American friendship
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Manila Metropolitan Theater
Guest conductor: Jose Reyna, Jr.
Guest soloists: Jeanne Marquez, violin; Jason Marquez, clarinet
Tickets: ₱1,000 to ₱5,000 via TicketWorld
A Centennial Concert That Returns to 1946
The July 4 date is not incidental.
On July 5, 1946, the day after the inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines, the Manila Symphony Orchestra presented a Gala Symphony Concert at the Rizal Memorial Stadium as part of the national independence celebrations.
Eighty years later, Concert III of the MSO Centennial Season returns to that moment through a program that connects Filipino and American composers across generations.
The result is more than a commemorative concert. LIBERATION is also a reminder that orchestras can carry memory differently. They do not only preserve history through archives and anniversaries. They allow audiences to hear it again.
What the Manila Symphony Orchestra Will Perform
The evening opens with Col. Antonino Buenaventura’s “Youth”, the prize-winning composition that premiered during the MSO’s 1946 Gala Symphony Concert. Buenaventura, a former MSO Assistant Conductor, conducted the work himself during that historic performance.
Written for a country emerging from war, the piece portrays youth as the embodiment of vigor, energy, love, and possibility. Its return gives the July 4 concert a direct musical connection to the celebrations held eight decades earlier.
The program continues with Lucio San Pedro’s Concerto in D Minor for Violin and Orchestra. Recognized as the first complete violin concerto written by a Filipino composer, the work was composed in 1948 as San Pedro completed his composition studies at the Juilliard School in New York.
For this performance, the concerto will be played by violinist Jeanne Marquez, a recent Juilliard graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance.
Representing the American tradition are Artie Shaw’s Concerto for Clarinet, featuring Filipino-American clarinetist Jason Marquez, and George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture for Orchestra, arranged by Robert Russell Bennett.
Together, the works move through classical music, jazz, popular music, and the symphonic tradition without losing the larger idea behind the evening: the ways Filipino and American musical histories have intersected, influenced one another, and continued to evolve.
Meet the Guest Artists
Jeanne is joined by her older brother Jason Marquez, a Filipino-American principal clarinetist in Michigan and Texas. Leading the MSO is Jose Reyna, Jr., an American Prize-winning Filipino conductor hailed by The Manila Bulletin as the “Filipino Toscanini” for his artistry and panache on the podium.
A Homecoming at the Metropolitan Theater
The venue adds another layer of meaning.
The Manila Metropolitan Theater has been associated with the Manila Symphony Orchestra since the theater’s inauguration in 1931. The July 4 performance marks a homecoming for the orchestra as it returns to its longtime artistic home and begins a renewed partnership with the Metropolitan Theater for the seasons ahead.
For anyone following the MSO Centennial Season, that return feels especially fitting. A concert about history, liberation, and cultural memory finds its way into a venue that has carried its own share of Manila’s artistic history.
Ticket Prices and How to Book
Tickets for MSO Centennial Concert III: LIBERATION are available via TicketWorld.
| Seating Section | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| VIP | ₱5,000 |
| Loge | ₱5,000 |
| Orchestra Front Side | ₱3,500 |
| Orchestra Rear Side | ₱3,000 |
| Balcony Center | ₱2,000 |
| Balcony Inner | ₱1,500 |
| Balcony Outer | ₱1,000 |
Available Ticket Promos and Discounts
Early-bird promo: Use code LIBERATIONEB20. Valid until June 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
Students: Students receive 50% off. Send a valid student ID to the MSO through its official channels to receive a discount code.
Senior citizens and PWDs: Senior citizens and PWDs receive 20% off. Orchestra or Loge seating is recommended because the Balcony level is accessible by stairs.
MSO All Access subscribers: Complimentary tickets are available for subscribers. New subscriptions may also offer savings of up to 50%.
More information about the Manila Symphony Orchestra and its Centennial Season is available on the official MSO website.
Who Should Watch MSO Centennial Concert III: LIBERATION?
LIBERATION should appeal to audiences already following the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s Centennial Season, but its reach goes beyond regular classical-music listeners.
There is a clear entry point for anyone interested in Philippine history, Filipino composition, American orchestral music, or the Metropolitan Theater as a cultural landmark. The program is rooted in a specific national memory, but it also asks a broader question: what does a country choose to hear again when it looks back?
On July 4, the MSO answers through music.
About MSO Centennial Concert III: LIBERATION
When and where is MSO Centennial Concert III: LIBERATION?
The concert takes place on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.
How much are tickets for LIBERATION?
Tickets range from ₱1,000 to ₱5,000, depending on the selected seating section. Tickets are available via TicketWorld.
Is there an early-bird promo for MSO Centennial Concert III?
Yes. Use the promo code LIBERATIONEB20 until June 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
Are student, senior citizen, and PWD discounts available?
Yes. Students receive 50% off after sending a valid ID to the MSO for a discount code. Senior citizens and PWDs receive 20% off. Orchestra or Loge seating is recommended for senior citizens and PWDs because the Balcony level is accessible by stairs.
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LIBERATION is presented by the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Inc. and Standard Insurance; co-presented by EastWest Bank and PAGCOR; and staged in partnership with Bagong Pilipinas, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and The Metropolitan Theater. Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation is the concert sponsor. Official media partners are The Manila Times, 98.7 DZFE-FM | The Master’s Touch, EON Group, and Manila Trend Tracker.