Amid the orchestral atmosphere of Ha Noi in autumn, the performance of “Tien Quan Ca” became one of the evening’s most memorable moments for the audience.
More than 100 LSO musicians, together with Sir Antonio Pappano, returned to Ha Noi for two evenings of the Viet Nam Airlines Classic-Ha Noi Concert 2026. This year’s programme takes audiences on a musical journey through works by Lyadov, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky, featuring solo performances by Benjamin Marquise Gilmore and Eivind Ringstad.
Before embarking on that journey, the music that filled Ho Guom Opera House was Viet Nam’s national anthem. Performed by one of the world’s leading symphony orchestras, the familiar melody, cherished by generations of Vietnamese people, lent a distinctive touch to the evening. It was also a performance that many audience members had eagerly anticipated even before the concert began.
For Tran Van, an audience member from Ho Chi Minh City who has attended the Viet Nam Airlines Classic-Ha Noi Concert over many editions, this year’s event was particularly special as it coincided with the most beautiful days of autumn in Ha Noi.
“Every return to Ha Noi leaves me with many emotions, especially in autumn. This year, having the opportunity to enjoy an LSO performance in the capital makes the experience even more special. I have been eagerly looking forward to the moment when the Vietnamese national anthem rings out in the orchestra’s performance,” he said.
The Viet Nam Airlines Classic-Ha Noi Concert also brings international artists together with audiences in the heart of the capital, creating further opportunities to connect the world with Vietnamese culture and the country’s image. Following the opening performance of Viet Nam’s national anthem, the LSO continued with three works spanning different musical styles and periods: The Enchanted Lake by Anatoly Lyadov, Sinfonia Concertante by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Symphony No. 5 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano, more than 100 LSO musicians, alongside soloists Benjamin Marquise Gilmore on violin and Eivind Ringstad on viola, guided the audience through the programme’s emotional journey. In particular, the musical dialogue between the violin and viola in Mozart’s work provided a highlight before Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 brought the concert to its dramatic climax.
The LSO’s return continues the effort to bring major names in classical music closer to Vietnamese audiences, adding another artistic highlight to Ha Noi’s autumn calendar. From the opening notes of “Marching Song” to the classical masterpieces that followed, the first evening of the Viet Nam Airlines Classic-Ha Noi Concert 2026 created a musical encounter between Vietnamese cultural values and the finest achievements of world music.
