At the “Dvořák & Rachmaninov – Two Romantic Slavonic Masterpieces" concert on the evening of November 8 at Ho Guom Opera House, leading South Korean classical artist Suah Ye captivated audiences with an emotionally rich performance, flawlessly recreating the signature “bell-like" resonance of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2.
Dvořák & Rachmaninov
A Journey of Emotions Between Two Worlds
Under the baton of Maestro Yury Tkachenko, accompanied by the compelling performance of pianist Suah Ye, a young Korean talent recognized by Forbes Korea, the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra delivered a meticulously crafted, deeply artistic, and emotionally charged concert.
Opening the program, Sergei Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 resounded like a powerful personal confession. From the very first chords, the hall fell silent before the rich, resonant, and brilliant timbre of Suah Ye's playing. She is a two-time laureate of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition and has performed in some of the world's most renowned concert halls.
Suah Ye recreated the quintessential Rachmaninov “bell-like" effect—both solemnly tragic and intensely powerful. In the slow movement, she showed sensitivity and refined control; by the finale, she delivered an explosion of energy and conviction, prompting repeated admiration from the audience.
Pianist Suah Ye.
“I felt as if I were reliving Rachmaninov's journey from darkness to light, from despair to faith," said audience member Nguyen Phuong Linh (Hanoi).
Maestro Yury Tkachenko's direction was both precise and inspirational. A Merited Artist of Russia, Professor at Novosibirsk State Conservatory, principal conductor of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, and a mentor of generations of young musicians, he brought the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra to a high degree of cohesion, with resonant sound and intricately balanced orchestral layers.
Conductor Yury Tkachenko, with his highly expressive conducting style.
In the second half, Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 “From the New World" transported listeners through time and space with melodies that blended Bohemian folk spirit with the expansive, vibrant breath of late 19th-century America. The Largo movement featured a beautifully executed, soulful cor anglais solo, while the fast movements brimmed with vitality, showcasing the orchestra's youthful energy.
An elderly audience member remarked with emotion, “This was a rare concert that made me feel as though I were traveling between two worlds—one with the depth of the Russian soul, the other with the yearning for freedom of the New World."
A Spirit of Cultural Integration
The 2025 concert season marks a significant step forward in the artistic quality of the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra—one of Vietnam's most established and prestigious orchestras. Founded in 1997 as the successor to the Hanoi Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, it brings together faculty members, soloists, and outstanding students from the Vietnam National Academy of Music, many of whom trained at top conservatories in Russia, Germany, Hungary, and the UK.
The orchestra has collaborated with many renowned international conductors and artists such as Orhan Salliel, Fakhraddin Karimov, Nayden Todorov, Honna Tetsuji, and performed with celebrated soloists and vocalists like People's Artist Dang Thai Son, People's Artist Bui Cong Duy, Sara Dragan, Fidan Hajiyeva, Marcelo Alvarez, Kathryn Lewek, Joseph Calleja, Denis Shapovalov, Suah Ye… These collaborations between international artists and the orchestra's young workforce reflect a spirit of cultural integration and a desire to innovate, bringing classical music closer to the public.
The Hanoi Symphony Orchestra has collaborated with many renowned conductors and artists.
One of the partners accompanying the orchestra this season is ROX Group— a multi-sector investment corporation pioneering in urban & industrial development, services, and finance. ROX Group believes that a civilized, culturally rich urban environment must be built not only with modern infrastructure but also sustained by a vibrant spiritual life and the spread of cultural values.
With a vision of urban development centered around art and people, ROX Group regards music—especially classical music—as an indispensable component of a livable city. Its partnership with the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra is both an artistic contribution and a reaffirmation of its commitment to nurturing living spaces where beauty, emotion, and knowledge are honored.
The concert “Dvořák & Rachmaninov – Two Romantic Slavonic Masterpieces" concluded with prolonged applause, yet the resonance of its melodies continues to linger. Music connected people through emotion, igniting a yearning for beauty and fostering a spirit of cultural integration.