The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (PCMS) presented an outstanding hybrid program on January 8, 2026, at the Perelman Theater at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center. Featured were BalletX and Ensemble132. 

Executive and Artistic Director of BalletX Christine Cox and Artistic Director of PCMS Miles Cohen bounced off one another as if they were Tracy and Hepburn as they introduced this special event. (We would like to hear and/or see these two in a podcast!) We learned that this program was two years in the planning stage. Not only do the two ensembles have a dislike for spacing in their names, but Ensemble132 performed a musical program before intermission. They also provided musical accompaniment (arranged by Mr. Hong) to Petrushka by Igor Stravinsky, revisioned under a contemporary lens by Amy Hall Garner, with collaborator Nancy Meckler. 

Ensemble132 during the Bartok, Wiancko, and Mozart were Sahun Sam Hong, Stephanie Zyzak, Luther Warren, and Zachary Mowitz. They played with fervor, skill, and unerring commitment. Many audience members found the two young string players adorable. They played before a stoic black backdrop. 

After intermission, the revisioned Petrushka was unveiled. Ensemble132 members seen earlier were joined by Maria Ioudenitch at the rear of the stage, leaving the performance stage for the dancers. For this rare occasion,  the stage was transformed into a proscenium stage throughout. Costumes and Scenery were visions by Emma Kingsbury. 

Here we meet gamboling dancers under the thrall of a Magician, played by Jonathan Montepara, who seemed to be a distant relation to the sweet transvestites from Planet Transylvania. Swishing and capering about one minute, then physically abusing his prima ballerina Belle, brilliantly danced by Lanie Jackson. A relatively fresh face in the company, Peter Weil, was Pete, aka Petrushka. A stretch of the imagination in casting, maybe. Nevertheless,  he was a superb dancer. At one critical point, Pete is made to don a loud and vulgar jumper created by the Magician, the evil queen — no doubt to insult the handsome young Pete. Well, donning said onesie, some experienced two seconds of Pete dropping his clothes to what appeared to be a flash of a Costco-sized Petrushka. A few girlish squeals at the sight proved this wasn’t just wishful thinking. Thank you, Mr. Weil.

The dance was absorbing and Mathis Joubert as Hercules was keeping our attention with his big club. The climax happened when Pete stole the Magician’s stick, freed all from the evil thrall, and both Pete’s and Belle’s costumes went onto a clothesline (more like dual trapeze bars) to disappear into Heaven. (Note: Pete had on a tasteful, clingy brief upon removing the clown suit.) The End.

An absolutely fabulous evening.

PCMS continues with a full and diverse season of concerts at very reasonable prices. For tickets and information, visit 

www.pcmsconcerts.org .