Hanoi Concert: Mozart and Vivaldi’s music performed at Thang Long Imperial Citadel
The 2026 New Year's Concert, held at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, spreads national cultural values connected with global values, raising the voices of a peaceful capital.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Hanoi Radio and Television marked the start of 2026 with the Hanoi Concert on the night of January 1 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, bringing symphonic music into one of the capital’s most historic spaces as part of the city’s New Year celebrations.
The program aired live on Hanoi Television and Radio, streamed on FM96 and reached wider audiences through digital platforms including YouTube, Facebook and the Hanoi On app.
The artists perform with conductor Honna Tetsuji and the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra. Photo: Hanoi Radio and Television
Symphonic music, rooted in European tradition, gained a distinctive character when performed in the ancient setting of the Imperial Citadel, creating a refined and memorable artistic experience.
Through the musicians’ performances, audiences sensed the depth of history, the elegance of classical music and the emotional resonance of the first moments of the new year.
The concert offered moments of excitement and reflection on January 1, while contributing to the promotion of high-level music and strengthening public appreciation for classical art.
As such, the 2026 New Year’s Concert went beyond a single performance. It emerged as a cultural, tourism and creative event that reflects Hanoi’s broader strategy to develop its cultural industries.
The first part of the program featured orchestral arrangements of Vietnamese works that express deep affection for the homeland. These included People of Hanoi by Nguyen Dinh Thi, A Little Spring by Tran Hoan with lyrics by Thanh Hai, Spring Flowers and Grass by Bao Chan and Hanoi East, West, South, North by Nguyen Vinh Tien.
This section also introduced Vietnamese instrumental works, highlighted by Seedling, a new composition by Trong Dai, which received its first public performance at the concert.
The second part brought audiences into the world of classical music with well-known international works, including Antonio Vivaldi’s Spring from The Four Seasons, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Alleluja, Eduardo Di Capua’s O Sole Mio, compositions by A. Mazzucchi and G. Capurro and Johann Strauss II’s Champagner-Polka, Op. 211.
The concert featured conductor Honna Tetsuji leading the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra, together with vocalists Meritorious Artist Pham Khanh Ngoc, Trong Tan and Nguyen Khac Hoa.
Solo performances by Meritorious Artist Le Giang on the zither and violinist Hoang Ho Khanh Van added further depth and nuance to the evening.
