The Crescendo International Music Festival 2026 brings together artists, lecturers and music experts to strengthen international exchange and cooperation, thereby enhancing the quality of music education and artistic creativity. The festival features contestants and experts from many countries and territories, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, France and Malaysia, with special professional collaboration from Italy's Vecchi-Tonelli Conservatory and the Viet Nam National Academy of Music. The festival's series of activities will take place throughout June and July 2026.
The concert will feature the Crescendo Festival Orchestra, the orchestra affiliated with CIMFC, together with numerous artists, professors, music experts and outstanding young talents from Viet Nam and many countries around the world. Among them are renowned artists such as Japanese pianist Rintaro Akamatsu, conductor Daniel Park (Republic of Korea), conductor Dustin Tieu, Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Huy Phuong, Dr Nguyen Trinh Huong, violinist Trinh Minh Hien, Meritorious Artist Duong Minh Chinh, guitarist Le Thu, opera singer Nguyen Khac Hoa, pianist Nguyen My Dung, singer Khanh Linh, and singer Tran Nguyen Kim Ngan.
The event aims to bring symphonic music closer to the public, allowing classical music to blend into the everyday life of Ha Noi's residents and visitors. Through this event, Ha Noi also seeks to promote its image as a City for Peace, a Creative City, and a destination for international cultural events.
According to the organisers, the programme has been designed as a musical journey, combining classical symphonic masterpieces with melodies rich in Vietnamese identity and international collaborative performances. The concert will open with "Summer" by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by violinist Trinh Minh Hien accompanied by the symphony orchestra. This will be followed by performances of "A Journey Around Viet Nam", "Hello Viet Nam and others, introducing familiar Vietnamese melodies to international audiences. The programme will also present world-renowned classical works, including "The Nightingale" by Alexander Alyabiev and the aria "Largo al factotum" from the opera Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Gioachino Rossini.
One of the highlights of the concert will be singer Khanh Linh's performance of "The Song of Hope", together with the works "Our Homeland in the South" and the concerto "The People of Ha Noi".
The programme will conclude with "We Are the World", performed by the full orchestra, the children's choir, international guest artists and the young talents of Crescendo 2026, conveying a message of peace, friendship and unity among nations through music.
