With New Year Concert 2026, the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra chooses to tell the story of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one through familiar works, thoughtfully curated with an open spirit that is accessible and rich in emotion.
A Year-End Musical Feast
Continuing the series of annual New Year concerts held at Ho Guom Opera House, New Year Concert 2026 will take place at 8:00 PM on December 28 at Ho Guom Opera House. The concert will be conducted by Maestro Tran Nhat Minh and will feature the participation of many renowned artists from Vietnam and around the world.
The program is structured into two distinct parts, bringing together European classical symphonic, operatic, and vocal works, interwoven with familiar melodies of the 20th century and contemporary music.
Conductor Tran Nhat Minh reunites with the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra in an emotional concert welcoming the New Year 2026.
From the very opening, audiences will be guided into the vibrant atmosphere of Austria's capital at the end of the 19th century through the overture Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II. Immediately afterward, Ho Guom Opera House will be transformed into an operatic space with classic excerpts from Verdi and Mozart.
The appearance of two guest vocalists from Kazakhstan – Sagyntay Nazym Zhalgasbaikyzy (soprano) and Rassul Zharmagambetov (bass) – is expected to bring a strong international dimension to the program.
Sagyntay Nazym Zhalgasbaikyzy, a soprano from Kazakhstan, winner of numerous prestigious international vocal awards.
Rassul Zharmagambetov, a baritone, is a prominent figure in Kazakhstan's opera scene.
Another highly anticipated highlight is the appearance of guitarist Hoang Tung with two works that have become “icons" of classical guitar repertoire: the deeply lyrical Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez (Joaquin Rodrigo) and Asturias (Isaac Albéniz), infused with powerful flamenco spirit.
Guitarist Hoang Tung is a prominent figure in the field of guitar performance and jazz ensemble.
The first half of the program will conclude with energetic works, from Rossini's aria Largo al factotum to Conga del Fuego Nuevo by Arturo Márquez, featuring vibrant Latin rhythms.
Part Two of the program will introduce audiences to songs deeply embedded in the memories of generations, such as Over the Rainbow and Hallelujah. Interspersed is Nightingale, a work imbued with distinctive Kazakh musical colors, creating a unique cultural highlight. A series of duets including Canto della Terra, The Prayer, and O sole mio is expected to deliver moments of emotional climax, showcasing the harmonious blend of technique and expression between the two international guest vocalists.
Notably, the famous film music suite Suite from Gladiator by Hans Zimmer has been selected to bring New Year Concert 2026 to a close with a powerful and emotionally charged finale.
Leading the program is conductor Tran Nhat Minh, a familiar name in Vietnam's classical music scene. With formal training in Russia, extensive experience conducting opera, symphonic works, and crossover projects between symphony and contemporary music, Tran Nhat Minh is highly regarded for his ability to balance professional depth with audience accessibility. His youthful and flexible conducting style contributes to the open and engaging spirit of the evening.
A Sustained Journey Bringing Classical Music to the Public
The 2025 season marks a qualitative shift for the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra, featuring a series of performances led by many prestigious international conductors such as Yury Tkachenko, Orhan Salliel, Fakhraddin Karimov, Nayden Todorov, Honna Tetsuji, Tran Nhat Minh, among others, alongside the participation of numerous renowned soloists and vocalists from Vietnam and abroad.
This dense and well-invested performance schedule reflects the consistent orientation of the Vietnam National Academy of Music in linking education with performance practice, under the leadership of its management and People's Artist Bui Cong Duy. It also serves as a foundation for the orchestra to gradually expand international cooperation, while creating more opportunities for the public to engage with classical music in everyday life.
The support of partners, including ROX Group, has contributed vital resources enabling the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra to sustain high-quality performance programs. Persistent investment in cultural and artistic activities demonstrates the role of enterprises in working alongside artistic institutions to nurture a sustainable symphonic music ecosystem in the capital.
Building on this foundation of resources and partnership, New Year Concert 2026 continues a meaningful concert series, opening new expectations for Hanoi's symphonic life—where classical music gradually steps out of the “ivory tower" to become a natural part of the rhythm of contemporary urban life.