Stravinsky concert at Ho Guom Opera: A Midlife Blend of Old & New

The Sun Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will offer a program steeped in the melodies of neoclassical music, featuring works by prominent 20th-century composers, including Russian musical genius Igor Stravinsky.

The concert Stravinsky: A Midlife Blend of Old & New will take place on June 13 at the Ho Guom Opera, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

The performance continues the diligent journey that the SSO has steadfastly pursued for many years: Bringing symphonic and chamber music to the capital's audiences.

Conductor Olivier Ochanine of the Sun Symphony Orchestra has once again chosen to challenge himself with Stravinsky's music in the above compositions, which straddle the classical and modern worlds. Photo: SSO

Russian musical genius Igor Stravinsky is considered one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. He was constantly searching for new musical languages. He composed many innovative works that have resonated since their first performance.

Known for monumental ballets such as The Firebird and The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky's creative period between World War I and World War II is a unique synthesis of artistic elements from the previous period (Baroque and Classical) with modern compositional methods and harmonic language.

This is also part of what would become known as the neo-classical movement in music, characterized by the rise of smaller orchestral compositions with clear and coherent structures and melodies, in complete contrast to the musical characteristics of the post-romantic period.

Through this concert, the SSO hopes to convey a message to its audience: The neoclassical music of the middle period of Stravinsky's compositional career is no less attractive than the early period of his career, which is best known to music lovers.

The diversity and richness of Stravinsky's repertoire of works will be clearly demonstrated at this concert through the presence of three works with clearly contrasting musical properties.

These are Octet - a piece of music dedicated to wind instruments, Apollon Musagète - a ballet piece written for strings, and finally Pulcinella Suite - a suite for orchestra based on the works of Italian musician Giovanni Battista Pergolesi of the 18th century

Among them, the two works Octet and Apollon Musagète will be introduced to the public for the first time in Vietnam, helping chamber music lovers enjoy the fresh, diverse colors and boundless creativity of Stravinsky. Along with that, the play Pulcinella Suite will once again be performed in the sublime space of Ho Guom Opera.