Violin legend Joshua Bell will perform with the SSO Orchestra in “Fantastique!”

On the evening of October 31 at the Hoan Kiem Theater, the Sun Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will bring to the capital city’s audience the concert “Fantastique!”. On this special stage, legendary violinist Joshua Bell will join the SSO in bringing French romantic music closer to Vietnamese audiences.

Violin legend Joshua Bell will perform in Vietnam.

Music transcends borders

As one of the most outstanding talents in the world of classical music , during his four-decade career, Joshua Bell has conquered prestigious stages such as Carnegie Hall, Musikverein or Royal Albert Hall with the world's leading orchestras (such as New York Philharmonic, NDR Elbphilharmonie or London Symphony).

With her technical and powerful playing style, Bell embodies the fusion of tradition and contemporary, of romantic French spirit and modern American beauty.

Joshua Bell's career extends beyond his soloist role. He is currently Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Orchestra (London), one of the world's most prestigious chamber orchestras. He also regularly serves as guest conductor at major music festivals.

In addition, Bell actively brings classical music closer to the public through community projects. With a Grammy Award, the title of “Living Legend of Indiana” and recently the title of “Commander of the British Empire” (CBE) awarded by King Charles III, Joshua Bell shows that music can transcend all borders.

During his Asia tour this October, Joshua Bell chose Hanoi as his final stop. Performing for the first time with a Vietnamese orchestra, he will perform Camille Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 - a work that epitomizes the French Romantic spirit.

Composed in 1880 and dedicated to violin genius Pablo de Sarasate, the concerto consists of three movements. Each movement is a slice of emotion: powerful, lyrical and explosive. In the hands of Joshua Bell, the Huberman Stradivarius 1713 will resonate with a mesmerizing sound, both soaring and profound.

Symphony of Romantic Souls

The program opened with the “Hungarian March” excerpt from Hector Berlioz’s “The Damnation of Faust” – a powerful piece that showcased the composer’s masterful orchestration. Inspired by the Hungarian Rákóczi folk march, the piece became a symbol of the vibrant, energetic, and free-spirited spirit of 19th-century Europe.

The second part of the concert was dedicated to "Symphonie fantastique", Op. 14 - Berlioz's immortal symphony, which is also the inspiration for the title "Fantastique!". The work, published in 1830, tells the story of Berlioz himself - a young artist immersed in the intoxication of love and illusion.

From "Rêveries" (reveries) - "Passions" (passions), to "Un bal" (night dance), the peaceful "Scène aux champs" (Country Scene), then the tragic "Marche au supplice" (execution song), ending with the frenzied "Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat" (Sabbath night dream), Berlioz takes the listener on an emotional journey through sound, where reality and fantasy seem to blend into one.

Together with Joshua Bell, the SSO will bring timeless symphonies.

With its bold five-movement structure and rich orchestral color, "Symphonie fantastique" marked a turning point in the history of romantic music, transforming the symphony into a narrative space of the soul.

Performed under the exquisite baton of Olivier Ochanine - a conductor renowned for his ability to exploit emotional depth in symphonic structures, “Fantastique!” promises to be one of the most memorable musical nights of 2025.

From Joshua Bell's virtuoso technique to the meticulous performance of the artists from the Sun Symphony Orchestra, all will create a rare musical experience - where the audience is led through the emotional labyrinth of Saint-Saëns and Berlioz, between the light of classical art and the vibrancy of the contemporary.

Established in 2017, the Sun Symphony Orchestra - a member of Sun Group, aims to become one of the Vietnamese symphony orchestras of international standards, enriching the spiritual life of the public through music. SSO's performances have been enthusiastically received by music lovers and highly appreciated by domestic and international experts.

MINH AN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/huyen-thoai-violin-joshua-bell-se-bieu-dien-cung-dan-nhac-sso-trong-fantastique-post918024.html