adminContinuing its journey to showcase the finest values of classical music, HBSO invites audiences in Ho Chi Minh City to experience Virtuoso Concertos, taking place on October 10, 2026, at 8:00 PM at the Saigon Opera House.
The program is highlighted by the participation of two guest artists: leading international violinist Stéphane Tran Ngoc and talented pianist Luu Hong Quang, alongside the HBSO Symphony Orchestra under the baton of meritorious artist Tran Vuong Thach.
Inspired by the beauty and allure of the concerto genre, the concert opens a multi-colored musical journey, immersing the audience in various emotional levels. From the bustling and liberated atmosphere in Carnival Overture, op. 92 by Antonín Dvořák, to the culturally rich sounds in the Violin Concerto by composer Hoang Cuong, and finally the majestic and dramatic depth of Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, op. 15 by Johannes Brahms. Three works with three distinct musical personalities will together create a rich artistic flow, where the beauty of the orchestra blends with the expressive power and virtuoso technique of the soloists.
Opening the concert is Carnival Overture, op. 92 by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. The piece acts as a gateway to a world of celebration – brilliant, vibrant, and full of energy. Flexible movements coupled with rich orchestration colors create an engaging opening, while clearly portraying Dvořák’s vibrant expressive capacity.
Following is the Violin Concerto by composer Hoang Cuong, featuring a solo performance by violinist Stéphane Tran Ngoc. The combination of a work bearing the imprint of Vietnamese music through the playing of an artist with a rich career on international stages creates a special highlight for the concert. With virtuoso technique and sophisticated interpretive ability, Stéphane Tran Ngoc promises to create a space of dialogue between Vietnamese compositional language and international academic performance thinking, thereby highlighting the expressive values as well as the artistic depth of the work.
Violin artist Stéphane Tran Ngoc lives in Paris, graduating as valedictorian in violin and chamber music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris at the age of 15. He has performed in over 30 countries, and his recordings have been released worldwide. He is also a renowned pedagogue, serving as one of the highest-qualified violin faculty members at the National Conservatory of Music of France and having been appointed as Head of Strings at the London Conservatory.
If Stéphane Tran Ngoc’s violin opens up flexible, colorful, and highly conversational lines, Luu Hong Quang’s virtuoso fingers will guide the audience into a vast musical space where power, lyricism, and internal movements coexist through Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, op. 15 by Johannes Brahms – one of the most massive and challenging concerto works of the 19th century. Right from the opening Maestoso sounds, Brahms establishes a vast, fierce, and powerful musical space. Yet behind that majesty lies a deep lyrical world, especially in the Adagio movement, where the piano sounds like a thoughtful monologue. And then in the final movement Rondo: Allegro non troppo, the pent-up energy returns in powerful movements, bringing the work to a vibrant conclusion.
Pianist Luu Hong Quang is one of Vietnam’s prominent young pianists on the international stage, highly regarded for his solid technique, refined emotions, and deeply expressive performance style. He began his professional training at the Vietnam National Academy of Music under the guidance of Professor Thu Ha Tran. Afterward, he received a full scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Music at the Australian Institute of Music under Professor Kyunghee Lee. Continuing his artistic path, Quang completed his Master’s degree at the University of Montreal under the guidance of renowned pianist Đặng Thái Sơn and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree with a full scholarship at the New Zealand School of Music.
Each piece will open up its own emotional level, contributing to an artistic and memorable performance. HBSO respectfully invites the audience to be present at the concert, to listen to the sounds raised by the talent, dedication, and artistic passion of the artists.
Text: VH Editor; Photo: HBSO
