artLIVE – On the evening of June 28, the entire audience at the Saigon Opera House was brought to life by the vibrant and emotional sounds of the concert ‘Piano Concertos by Saint-Saëns & Rachmaninov.’
When timeless melodies come alive
The concert was performed by two talented young pianists, Nguyen Dang Quang and Tran Yen Nhi, under the direction of conductor Dr. Le Ha My.
The performance began with ‘Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor’ by Camille Saint-Saëns. The piece opened with a solo piano passage that recalled Bach’s fugue style and ended with a lively and playful saltarella. Pianist Zygmunt Stojowski once jokingly said that this concerto “starts with Bach and ends with Offenbach.”
Following that was a light and joyful movement, offering a gentle pause before the highlight of the evening: ‘Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor’ by Sergei Rachmaninov.
This piece marked the composer’s strong return after a period of depression and has become a timeless symbol of classical music. It requires not only technical mastery but also deep emotional expression, where each note becomes a heartfelt, living rhythm.
The artistic journey of two young talents
To fully convey the spirit of these classical works, the performers needed both solid academic training and strong artistic sensitivity.
Nguyen Dang Quang, born in 1998 into a family of artists, began learning piano at age nine under the guidance of Professor, Doctor, and People’s Teacher Tran Thu Ha at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.
After graduating with distinction from the intermediate program in 2016, he continued his studies with People’s Artist Dang Thai Son. He received a full scholarship from the Vietnamese Government to study at the University of Montreal in Canada.
He is currently completing his master’s program and pursuing a doctoral degree at the same university, under the guidance of Professor Jean Saulnier. Along the way, he has also learned from internationally renowned artists such as Charles Richard-Hamelin, Marina Mdivani, and Armen Babakhanian.
Also featured was pianist Tran Yen Nhi, who began her musical training at age seven with Meritorious Teacher Tran Thanh Thao at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music. At 14, she moved to Russia to study at the Central Music School of Moscow, under the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. She completed both her bachelor’s and postgraduate degrees with excellence at this prestigious institution.
With a strong academic background and international performance experience, Yen Nhi has served as a judge in several major music competitions in Russia. She is currently a lecturer at the Piano Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music.
With their excellent technique, emotional depth, and great passion for classical music, the concert ‘Piano Concertos by Saint-Saëns & Rachmaninov’ left a lasting impression on the audience.
This was not only an art performance honoring two European music legends, but also a chance for the audience to see the talent, dedication and global ambition of young Vietnamese artists on their path to international integration.
Photo: HBSO
