​From Bach, Bruch and Godard to Tchaikovsky, a selection of classical masterpieces will be performed at Ho Guom Opera House in “Timeless Masterpieces," bringing together Vietnamese and international artists.

A Musical Journey from the Baroque to the Romantic Era

At 8 p.m. on September 18, the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra will present Timeless Masterpieces at Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi. Italian conductor Damiano Giuranna will lead the orchestra, joined by three soloists: pianist Luong To Nhu, flutist Le Thu Huong and violinist Hoang Ho Khanh Van.

The program features four works spanning different periods and musical traditions:: Johann Sebastian Bach's Piano Concerto No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056; Benjamin Godard's Suite de 3 morceaux, Op. 116; Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26; and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64.

Together, the works trace a musical journey from the Baroque era of the 18th century to the Romantic period of the 19th century. Bach is distinguished by his rigorous structures and intricate interplay between musical lines, while Godard brings the elegance and refinement of the French tradition. In Bruch's violin concerto, lyrical expression takes center stage, while Tchaikovsky closes the program with a symphonic work marked by dramatic intensity.

Bringing these contrasting compositions together allows audiences to trace the evolution of Western classical music across different periods, while highlighting the enduring vitality of works that have stood the test of time.

​Italian conductor Damiano Giuranna will lead the concert.

The concert will also bring together artists shaped by different musical traditions and educational backgrounds. Damiano Giuranna is an Italian conductor, violinist and cultural advocate. Over more than 25 years, he has led the development of the World Youth Orchestra, bringing together more than 3,000 young musicians from five continents and collaborating with more than 400 universities, conservatories and arts academies.

A central focus of Giuranna's work has been using music as a bridge between cultures. He has brought young musicians from Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia together through a range of international projects. Vietnam has also been part of that journey. Through the World Youth Orchestra, he has organized artistic and educational exchange programs with Vietnamese musicians and music institutions, helping foster connections between young generations and musical communities across cultures.

​​From left: soloists Luong To Nhu (piano), Le Thu Huong (flute) and Hoang Ho Khanh Van (violin).

The Vietnamese soloists also bring international study and performance experience to the program. Luong To Nhu studied at the Royal College of Music in the United Kingdom and the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Boulogne-Billancourt in France. Le Thu Huong received her musical training in Vietnam, Denmark and the United States. Hoang Ho Khanh Van studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Hungary and has received numerous international awards.

The combination of an international conductor, Vietnamese soloists and a Vietnamese orchestra creates a space for artistic exchange, allowing classical masterpieces to be revisited through the perspectives of contemporary musicians.

When Preservation Means More Than Keeping the Past

For classical music, keeping cultural heritage alive involves more than preserving scores or recreating works that have already secured their place in musical history. Equally important is bringing this heritage to new generations of audiences.

This remains one of the challenges facing the classical music scene in Vietnam. Compared with more mainstream genres, classical music tends to attract a more specialized audience. Expanding performance spaces, diversifying programs and creating more opportunities for the public to engage with classical music can therefore play an important role in passing musical heritage from one generation to the next.

Against this backdrop, support from the private sector can provide an important additional resource. For Timeless Masterpieces, ROX Group and Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB) are among the partners supporting the program.

Since 2025, ROX Group and MSB have been implementing the Sounds of Excellence project, with the aim of nurturing a high-quality cultural life and bringing classical arts closer to the public. The initiative has supported a range of concerts, opera and Russian ballet performances, introducing Hanoi audiences to classical works from the world's artistic heritage.

The project has also sought to build bridges for Vietnamese music to reach international audiences, including through its support for artists from the Vietnam National Academy of Music at music festivals in Azerbaijan.

Artists from the Vietnam National Academy of Music perform at Gabala Fest 2026.

These activities illustrate how social resources can help expand access to the arts — from bringing international works closer to domestic audiences to creating opportunities for Vietnamese artists to perform on international stages.

For classical music, heritage remains truly alive only when works from the past continue to be performed for audiences today. From Bach and Bruch to Tchaikovsky, compositions written centuries ago can still be rediscovered through the interpretations of contemporary artists, in new performance spaces and before new generations of listeners.

Timeless Masterpieces therefore extends a musical tradition that has evolved over centuries: works are preserved, but they are also continually performed, heard and experienced anew. By supporting the program, ROX Group seeks to create another point of connection between audiences and the arts, contributing to a richer cultural and spiritual life in the community.

It is also one way for classical music to move beyond the confines of values already established in history and continue to find its place in contemporary cultural life.