Shared Horizons is a rare meeting of two orchestras from two generations, where musical masterpieces from Mozart to Rachmaninov and Bizet resound in a single evening. Under the baton of conductor Olivier Ochanine, the program becomes a bridge connecting tradition and modernity, linking generations of artists and Vietnamese audiences.
Reimagining Over Two Centuries of Classical Music
Taking place on the evening of December 5, 2025 at the Grand Concert Hall of the Vietnam National Academy of Music, Shared Horizons will offer a rare artistic space for lovers of classical music. Presented by the Vietnam National Academy of Music Youth Orchestra (VNAMYO) in collaboration with the Sun Symphony Orchestra (SSO), the concert promises to bring back the full beauty of classical masterpieces through the perspectives of two generations of musicians.
VNAMYO rehearsing with conductor Olivier Ochanine. Photo: SSO
The highlight of Shared Horizons lies in the concept of “temporal convergence": five works, five eras, five musical expressions performed in a single night. Audiences will journey through more than two centuries of European music.
The program will open with excerpts from Mozart's The Magic Flute, showcasing the purity and luminous structure characteristic of the Classical period. A striking contrast follows with Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen, famed for its ornamentation, emotional sensitivity, and the free-spirited Gypsy musical style of the late 19th century.
Audiences will then be immersed in the lyrical depth and emotional power of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2, one of the most iconic works of the early 20th-century post-Romantic era. Finally, Sibelius' Karelia Suite and Bizet's Carmen Suite No. 1 will close the musical journey with vivid, heroic, folkloric, and richly ethnic colors.
Beyond its breadth of musical eras and styles, Shared Horizons features two talented young Vietnamese artists making their mark internationally. Violinist Do Phuong Nhi, trained professionally in Norway and experienced with leading European orchestras, will perform Zigeunerweisen. Pianist Pham Ngoc Giang—who has earned international awards in Malta and Russia—will deliver the final two movements of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2.
Leading the entire performance is conductor Olivier Ochanine, winner of the First Prize at the Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition (Hungary), along with numerous other prestigious awards. A familiar name to Vietnamese audiences, he has collaborated extensively with major orchestras throughout the region and the world. His combination of international experience and strong rapport with young musicians makes Ochanine the vital “bonding force" connecting VNAMYO and SSO in this concert.
Bridging Musical Heritage and Inspiring Across Generations
Shared Horizons is also an opportunity to reflect on the journey of VNAMYO—an orchestra built upon the longstanding classical training tradition of the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Since its reestablishment in 2022, VNAMYO has become an essential practical training environment for students and young musicians, helping cultivate the next generation of artists.
VNAMYO - the youth orchestra of the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Photo: SSO
Meanwhile, the Sun Symphony Orchestra (SSO), founded in 2017, is one of Vietnam's professional orchestras with ambitions of international stature, leading numerous projects that bring classical music closer to the public.
This special intergenerational concert, Shared Horizons, is supported by ROX Group—a multi-sector investment corporation that considers culture one of its pillars of sustainable development. For ROX Group, the values that shape quality of life extend beyond material prosperity to include the nurturing of inspiration, the enrichment of the soul, and the strengthening of community through meaningful artistic experiences.
For that reason, over the past year, ROX Group has supported various classical music programs such as Vivaldi & Beethoven, Italia Mistero, La Traviata, and The Masterpieces of Slavic Romanticism. Its continued contribution to large-scale artistic endeavors like Shared Horizons further affirms ROX Group's commitment to advancing Vietnam's musical landscape and empowering young Vietnamese talent.
Shared Horizons promises to be a memorable moment in the year-end performance season—a night where musical heritage is revived, connected, and transformed into timeless inspiration.