The timeless songs of composer Phú Quang will once again echo through the Ho Guom Opera House on the evening of October 4, 2025, in a special concert titled “Khát Vọng” (Aspiration). Presented with the largest symphony orchestra ever assembled for a Phú Quang concert, and featuring renowned artists such as People’s Artist Thanh Lam, People’s Artist Bùi Công Duy, Tùng Dương, and Ngọc Anh, under the baton of conductor Trần Nhật Minh, the event promises a complete musical journey — at once classical and contemporary, familiar yet refreshingly new.

Back in early winter 2002, in Hanoi, composer Phú Quang brought a small symphony orchestra to the stage for the very first time in his own concert — also titled “Khát Vọng”. At that time, symphonic music was still considered niche, and investing heavily to feature an orchestra in a light music concert carried profound personal meaning for him — far beyond what some perceived as an attempt to “polish his name.”

In a heartfelt reflection, the late composer once shared: “To be honest, when I was young, I didn’t value songs much — my first composition had no lyrics. Because I felt that only in instrumental music could I bare my soul completely.” Those words revealed his deep devotion to music, especially to instrumental forms, which he saw as a gateway to freedom and purity. Quiet afternoons by the window, listening to Rachmaninov and Stravinsky — the masters he admired — sowed in him an endless passion. Naming his 2002 concert “Khát Vọng” was, in essence, his way of giving life to his dream: to reach for greater beauty and artistic transcendence.

More than twenty years later, after life’s many changes — “The golden autumn leaf has drifted away” — yet some dreams, once born, never fade. They burn brighter, driving us to go further and stronger. Once again, “Khát Vọng” has been chosen as the theme for this year’s concert, to be held on October 4, 2025, at the Ho Guom Opera House. The concert is organized by the composer’s family as part of an annual series dedicated to preserving and expanding Phú Quang’s musical legacy. His daughter, pianist Trinh Hương, will serve as the Artistic Director.

Sharing about the concept, the family expressed that “Khát Vọng” is not only a title — it embodies the spirit of those who remain: the family, students, colleagues, and lifelong friends who wish to continue the musical journey Phú Quang began. It is also a message of gratitude — to a man who devoted his life to composing for Hanoi, for love, and for memory. More importantly, it represents a desire to bring Phú Quang’s music closer to younger generations — so that his melodies do not merely live in nostalgia, but continue to resonate in every moment of the present.

This year’s “Khát Vọng” concert invites all lovers of Phú Quang’s music to immerse themselves in a space both majestic and intimate — where his melodies will be uplifted and reborn through the grandest symphonic arrangement ever dedicated to his work. Every tone and orchestration has been thoughtfully refined to allow his music to spread deeply and widely, touching the soul of each listener.

It will be an evening where music is not only heard, but felt — lived through each heartbeat. And when the final note fades, the audience will carry home a quiet moment of reflection, realizing that music — like aspiration itself — is what keeps us loving, hoping, and believing in the enduring beauty of life.

Source: Bao Moi