Speaking at a press meeting introducing the programme held on the morning of October 2 in Ha Noi, Do Dong Hung, Head of the Communications Department of Viet Nam Airlines, said that when Viet Nam Airlines initiated VACC in 2017, its goal was not simply to organise a concert, but to build a high-quality cultural rendezvous, bringing international artistic programmes closer to Vietnamese audiences; thereby developing more high-quality cultural products and contributing to promoting the image of the capital to domestic and international visitors.
According to Do Dong Hung, VACC’s journey from 2017 to the present has shown that building a prestigious cultural programme requires time and long-term investment; artistic quality must be maintained from one season to the next; relationships with international partners need to be strengthened; and the programme must continue to attract the attention of audiences. The fact that international artists have returned to Ha Noi on numerous occasions is one of the clearest results of this process.
This year, VACC once again welcomes the LSO, one of the world’s leading symphony orchestras, which has returned to Ha Noi several times with many renowned artists and conductors. This contributes to creating a bridge between Ha Noi audiences and the artists and works of the world’s symphonic music.
Joining the LSO this time is conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, who has served as the orchestra’s Chief Conductor since September 2024. He spent more than 20 years with the Royal Opera House in the United Kingdom and has conducted numerous opera and symphonic programmes, while collaborating with many international artists and orchestras.
Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano said that although this is his second return to Viet Nam, he still has fresh emotions and hopes to bring the most beautiful musical works to audiences in the capital.
Accordingly, in a programme specially designed for Vietnamese audiences, VACC 2026 will introduce three works from different styles and periods. The programme opens with Anatoly Lyadov’s “The Enchanted Lake”, a work distinguished by richly coloured layers of sound that evoke a magical and poetic atmosphere.
Next, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante” brings a sense of balance and refinement, featuring solo performances by violinist Benjamin Marquise Gilmore and violist Eivind Ringstad against an orchestral backdrop provided by the LSO.
The performance concludes with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5”, one of the Russian composer’s signature works, notable for its emotional depth, powerful climaxes and highly expressive dramatic character.
The three works, each with its own distinctive shades, create a multi-layered musical journey, ranging from gentle, deeply poetic beauty to powerful and dramatic sounds.
Part of the “Touching Ha Noi’s Autumn” series of activities, VACC 2026 is organised by Viet Nam Airlines in collaboration with the LSO and Ho Guom Theatre. Through music, the programme contributes to bringing international cultural values closer to the public, while also showcasing the image of Ha Noi - a city rich in identity, dynamic and increasingly integrated with the world.
