The Russian National Orchestra is the first Russian orchestra to win a Grammy. — Photo courtesy of the RNO

HÀ NỘI — The Russian National Orchestra (RNO), the first Russian orchestra to have won a Grammy, will perform for the first time in Việt Nam this autumn.

They will perform on October 12 and 13, their concerts part of the annual Vietnam Airlines Classic – Hanoi Concert (VACC) that has been organised by the national carrier since 2017.

However, unlike previous seasons when all the concerts were held on an open-air stage, the VACC this year will take place indoor at the Hồ Gươm Theatre, one of the Top 10 Most Outstanding Opera Houses in the World, according to the World Travel Awards.

Under the baton of Spanish conductor César Álvarez, the RNO will open the VACC 2024 with Việt Nam’s national anthem, Tiến Quân Ca (The Marching Song) that has been arranged by composer Đỗ Hồng Quân for the symphony orchestra.

Spanish conductor César Álvarez talks with local media at a press conference about the VACC 2024 in Hà Nội last Thursday. Álvarez will conduct the Russian National Orchestra during two concerts on October 12 and 13. — Photo courtesy of Thanh Việt Production

The orchestra will present a repertoire featuring several other famous compositions by renowned composers.

Young and exceptionally talented pianist Eva Gevorgyan will perform a solo at the opening concert on October 12.

The Russian-Armenian pianist is a laureate in more than 40 piano competitions, including winning top prizes at the 2018 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists and the 2019 Van Cliburn Young Artist Competition. She has performed as soloist with several symphonies and orchestras including the Dallas Symphony, Lucerne Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic, the Leipzig Symphony Orchestra and Liechtenstein Philharmonic.

During the second concert of the VACC 2024 on October 13, alongside the Vietnamese national anthem and celebrated compositions, there will be some ballet excerpts staged by principal dancers from the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

Ballerina Anna Nikulina as Odette in ‘Swan Lake’. Nikulina will among principle dancers of Bolshoi Theatre to perform some ballet excerpts at the VACC on October 13. — Photo courtesy of Bolshoi Theatre

The dancers include Anna Nikulina – People's Artist of the Russian Federation, Alexander Volchkov – Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation, Elizaveta Kokoreva – winner of the International Ballet Competition Grand Prix of Siberia, and Egor Geraschenko – winner of the 3rd All-Russian competition of Young Performers in 2017.

The RNO was founded in 1990 by pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnev and has been described as ' A living symbol of the best in Russian art' (Miami Herald).

Maintaining an active international schedule, the RNO appears in the music capitals of Europe, Asia and the Americas, and is a frequent guest at festivals such as Edinburgh, the BBC Proms and Festival Napa Valley.

Their recording of S. Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and J. Beintus' Wolf Tracks, conducted by Kent Nagano and narrated by Sophia Loren, Bill Clinton and Mikhail Gorbachev, received a 2004 Grammy Award, making the RNO the first Russian orchestra to win the recording industry's highest honour.

Their recording of Shostakovich Symphony No. 7, conducted by Paavo Järvi, was awarded the Diapason d’Or de l’Année 2015 as the year's best symphonic album and was nominated for a 2016 Grammy Award.

VACC 2024 and all of the series from 2017 to 2019, before suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is produced by Thanh Việt Production – the producer of Monsoon Music Festival, Việt Nam’s biggest annual music festival.

Founder and director of Thanh Việt Productions, music producer and composer Quốc Trung (second right), conductor César Álvarez (third right) pose for a photo at a press conference about the VACC 2024 in Hà Nội. — Photo courtesy of Thanh Việt Production

In 2017 and 2018, Thanh Việt brought the world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra to perform at the VACC at Lý Thái Tổ Square by Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

VACC aims to bring world-class cultural and artistic performances to local audiences, as well as promote cultural exchange between Việt Nam and other parts of the world. — VNS