- Hello, conductor Olivier Ochanine, how do you feel about continuing to conduct the 2025 National Concert "What Remains"? What preparations do you usually make to conduct an orchestra in a large concert like "What Remains"?
I am deeply honored to continue my role as conductor for the 2025 National Concert "What Remains." This program has become an important tradition in Vietnam, an occasion not only to celebrate the history and enduring strength of the nation but also to unite people through the power of music – something that connects and inspires. I feel truly proud to be a part of such a meaningful event.
When preparing for a major concert like "The Lasting Thing ," my process is both meticulous and comprehensive. In one aspect, it involves in-depth study of the score: understanding every detail, every intention of the composer/arranger (in this case, Music Director Tran Manh Hung) and anticipating how the orchestra can convey them clearly and convincingly.
But preparation also involves creating a shared vision with the musicians—combining masterful technique with an understanding of the meaning and spirit of the work, so that the performance transcends the dry notes on the sheet music.
Ultimately, I always think of the audience. A concert of this scale is meant to create an experience that resonates not only within the auditorium but also in people's hearts, even after the last note has faded. I still remember the overwhelming feeling of patriotism that filled the space at last year's concert, and I hope that will be recreated, perhaps even surpassed.
- With your background, you could absolutely develop your career in a larger music market than Vietnam. Why do you still choose to stay and develop your career here?
It's true that my current career could easily take me to bigger, more established music markets, but I've always believed that the meaning in an artist's life doesn't just come from the brightest lights, but from where the artist can truly make a difference.
When I came to Vietnam, I saw tremendous potential. The audience here is passionate, inquisitive, and open to new experiences. The musicians are talented and eager to develop. Then, and even now, there remains a rare opportunity to build something from the ground up – to shape the identity of an orchestra, nurture it, and contribute to the cultural life of an entire nation.
This kind of opportunity is not easily found in more prominent markets, where things have been established for centuries.
Staying in Vietnam isn't just about conducting concerts; it's about contributing to making music a sustainable and transformative part of people's lives here. I feel that what we're building together will become a legacy, and that means far more to me than simply adding another foreign name to a resume.
- At "The Lasting Thing" and many other concerts, the moments when you passionately held the conductor's baton reminded me of the wizards in the famous "Harry Potter" series. In a way, I think music and magic are very close; a conductor leads an orchestra, and a wizard controls magic. What do you think?
I really like the comparison, although I have to admit I don't really think I look like a witch! (laughs)
But there really is something magical about how music works. Unlike a wizard's wand, my conductor's baton doesn't create sound on its own. It simply transmits the energy and imagination of over 70 musicians on stage. When we breathe together, perform the melodies together, and feel as one, the result can truly be like chanting a spell over the entire audience.
Music has long possessed the ability to instantly transform human emotions, stirring them, comforting them, and inspiring them. If conducting sometimes seems like magic, it's only because what we orchestras create together cannot be explained solely by mechanics or technique. There is an intangible element that is both deeply human and supernatural; and that is why audiences often perceive it as a kind of "magic."
Olivier Ochanine conducts the orchestra at "Things That Remain" 2024:
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nhac-truong-nguoi-phap-olivier-ochanine-toi-khong-nghi-minh-giong-phu-thuy-2436248.html
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