Autumn Melodies Return with Swan Lake

The Autumn Melodies Arts Festival returns with a series of seven special programs, including excerpts from the classical ballet Swan Lake, symphony concerts, vocal music, chamber music, workshops...

The Autumn Melodies Art Festival is a meeting place for the public to enjoy domestic and international talents - Photo: H.VY

2025 marks the 14th and 20th anniversary of the Autumn Melodies Arts Festival organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO).

Taking place since 2005, the festival has become a special highlight in the cultural, artistic and entertainment life of Ho Chi Minh City, affirming the prestige and position of Vietnamese classical music .

This year, tickets to the festival, which takes place from August 15 to 24 at the Ho Chi Minh City Theater, continue to be free for the audience.

This is not only an opportunity for the public to enjoy the talents of leading Vietnamese and international artists, but also an opportunity to promote exchange and creativity for artists in Vietnam.

Enjoy world masterpieces

On August 15, the festival will open with the opening program " Fly up Vietnam ", a music night that promises to be full of emotions with typical Vietnamese works and proud ensembles by musicians Hoang Cuong, Ca Le Thuan, Do Hong Quan...

On August 16, the audience will enjoy a free-spirited and fresh chamber music night with works by André Messager, Gustav Mahler, Gabriel Fauré... and Baroque masterpieces by Johann Sebastian Bach.

On the afternoon of August 11, the organizing committee held a press conference to introduce in detail seven program contents that will take place over a week at the 2025 Autumn Melody Arts Festival - Photo: H.VY

On August 17, the masterpieces Prelude to "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg" by Richard Wagner and Symphony No. 1 "Titan" by Gustav Mahler will be performed for the first time in Ho Chi Minh City, arranged and conducted by conductor Le Ha My.

On August 20, a series of famous arias by renowned composers will be performed in the Vocal & Choral Arts concert. The second part of the concert is an A Cappella choral work written specifically for the HBSO choir, arranged and conducted by choir and orchestra conductor Kerstin Behnke from Germany.

On August 22, dance lovers will have the opportunity to explore many fascinating contents about classical ballet through the Swan Lake ballet workshop, interact with Norwegian choreographer Hohanne Jakhelln Constant and experience the illustration of an excerpt from Act 2, one of the most emotional and symbolic scenes of Swan Lake.

Artist Do Hoang Khang Ninh will play the white swan Odette in HBSO's ballet Swan Lake - Photo: PHUC HAI

On August 23, the performance of excerpts from the ballet Swan Lake was the highlight of the 2025 Autumn Melodies Festival.

The audience will enjoy the most impressive dance performances by artists of the HBSO Ballet, choreographed by Norwegian choreographer Hohanne Jakhelln Constant. She is the one who choreographed with HBSO three classic ballets : The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Coppélia , all of which were "sold out" shows.

On August 24, the festival will close with Egmont and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor , a work expressing brotherly friendship around the world, led by conductors Kerstin Behnke and Tran Nhat Minh.

Artist Do Hoang Khang Ninh shares about practicing for the ballet Swan Lake at the press conference - Photo: H.VY

A memorable and worthy art experience

Ms. Thai Mai Lan, Director of the Goethe Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, expressed her joy at welcoming the talented conductor Kerstin Behnke. She is the youngest conductor and the first female conductor to conduct Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in Tokyo and this year she will conduct this special work on the closing night of the Autumn Melodies Festival.

Conductor Le Ha My, director of the HBSO Theater, shared: "For us, this year's festival can be summed up in the word "challenge" because each performance is very challenging both in terms of organization and expertise. All artists do their best to make every performance quality and attractive for the audience."

Dr. and conductor Le Ha My, director of HBSO Theater, and Ms. Thai Mai Lan, director of Goethe Institute Ho Chi Minh City, shared about the Autumn Melodies Festival at the press conference - Photo: H.VY

He also expressed that the biggest challenge was staging the ballet Swan Lake. The small theater space posed many difficulties in terms of stage size, props, and the music pit for the orchestra to perform. He hoped that the efforts to develop the Thu Thiem Theater by the end of this year would proceed smoothly and the completion date "would not be far away".

"HCMC is a cultural, social and artistic locomotive but still has many difficulties regarding cultural institutions.

We look forward to the future of Thu Thiem Theater as a cultural institution not only for HSBO artists but also a gathering place for international friends, bringing the public worthy and memorable artistic experiences" - Mr. Le Ha My said.

Playing the main role in the ballet Swan Lake, artist Do Hoang Khang Ninh shared that the artists are all practicing hard from morning to night in the hot weather of Ho Chi Minh City.

The most difficult thing for her is to show the techniques of flying, gliding like a swan's feather on a hard nose accompanied by the diverse, delicate expressions of a swan.

Meritorious Artist Ho Phi Diep said the play was choreographed by Norwegian choreographers in a concise manner, suitable for the HBSO Ballet but still ensuring the best features of Swan Lake. The play will be performed in its entirety at the end of October.

Conductor Kerstin Behnke, Choir and Orchestra Conductor from Germany, is a special guest at this year's Autumn Melodies Festival - Photo: H.VY

Coming to Vietnam for the first time, conductor Kerstin Behnke expressed her joy when knowing that the Autumn Melody Festival is an opportunity for many talented domestic and international artists to gather and exchange.

She was very impressed with the Vietnamese artists and asked her husband to write a new work as a gift for the HBSO Choir to bring a new, unique and connecting experience.

Conductor Tran Nhat Minh, head of the HBSO Opera, revealed that this is a very new and modern work influenced by Vivaldi. He is honored that the HBSO Choir has a work written specifically for him for the first time.

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HUYNH VY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giai-dieu-mua-thu-tro-lai-voi-ho-thien-nga-20250812092018129.htm