Spring aspirations strike a cultural chord ahead of Vietnam’s 14th Party Congress
At Hanoi’s Ho Guom Theatre, classical music took on a civic role as leading orchestras and soloists gathered for a concert ahead of a pivotal political event.
THE HANOI TIMES — Beneath the chandeliers of Ho Guom Theatre, “Aspiration for Spring” unfolded as a carefully curated cultural statement, using the language of classical music to express confidence, continuity and renewal at the national turning point.
The Spring Aspirations concert bridged tradition and modernity left a lasting impression on the audience. Photo: VCMA
The concert took place on the evening of January 17, at a moment when the country was marking an important transition, lending the program a sense of reflection and anticipation.
The special concert marked the first time two leading orchestras performed together with internationally acclaimed pianists Eric Lu and Nguyen Viet Trung, creating a rare artistic dialogue on a single stage.
The audience included senior Party and State leaders, ambassadors, chargés d’affaires, heads of representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam, officials from central and Hanoi-based agencies and a broad cross-section of music lovers.
Nguyen Van Than, Chairman of the Vietnam Classical Music Association and a member of the 14th and 15th National Assembly, said the concert affirmed culture and the arts as an inexhaustible source of spiritual inspiration.
Held on the eve of the Party Congress, the program underscored how music can transmit ideals and contribute to the dissemination of the Party’s orientations through enduring cultural values.
Dr. Nguyen Van Than, President of the Vietnam Classical Music Association opens the classical music evening.
The program opened with the Overture “Welcome” by composer Trong Bang, performed by Meritorious Artist Le Giang and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra under conductor Honna Tetsuji, a work evoking aspirations for peace and prosperity.
Pianist Nguyen Viet Trung then joined the orchestra for Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, delivering a performance that highlighted the emotional depth and lyricism of Romanticism.
American pianist Eric Lu captivates the audience with a remarkable evening performance.
Meanwhile, American pianist Eric Lu followed with Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, performing alongside the Sun Symphony Orchestra under conductor Olivier Ochanine. His refined, expressive interpretation guided the audience through a contrasting musical landscape, blending intimacy with dramatic power.
The evening concluded with “Returning to the Homeland” by renowned Vietnamese composer Nguyen Van Thuong, performed by Nguyen Viet Trung, cellist Tran Hong Nhung, flutist Chen Yen Chi and the Sun Symphony Orchestra, again under Olivier Ochanine’s direction.
“Aspiration for Spring” was organized by the Vietnam Classical Music Association in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, with support from Ho Guom Theatre, the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, the Sun Symphony Orchestra and the Vietnam National Academy of Music.
