Behind those performances are the persistent efforts to contribute to nurturing a high-quality cultural life for the community of ROX Group and MSB Commercial Joint Stock Bank.
When the opposites speak with music
In the history of classical music, Nordic composers are famous for their ability to create sound paintings that are both cold and still like Northern nature, and contain powerful energy and emotions inside. That contrast is also one of the guiding spirits of the "Frozen Fire" program on June 26, 2026 at Ho Guom Theater.
Instead of simply gathering famous works, "Frozen Fire" is built as a musical story throughout. Three works by Sibelius, Wieniawski and Shostakovich lead the audience through many different emotional levels, from heroic, intense to profound and contemplative.
The opening is Finlandia by Jean Sibelius - a work that has become a spiritual symbol of the Finnish people. In the sound layers carrying the breath of Northern Europe is a smoldering, persistent and strong flame of patriotism.
From the land of the North, the emotional journey turns to the flamboyant romance of Henryk Wieniawski with Violin Concerto No. 1. This is one of the concertos that requires top-notch technique for violin, where lyrical beauty goes hand in hand with harsh challenges for soloists.
And finally, Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich - a masterpiece of the 20th century. After nearly a century, the work still moves with its ability to convey opposite emotions: tension and hope, tragedy and victory, darkness and light.
The highlight of the performance night will be violinist Sara Dragan. Hanoi audiences have met her in the Tchaikovsky Night 2025 program. This return is more special when Sara Dragan chose to perform the work of her compatriot composer Henryk Wieniawski. The work not only challenges the artist's bravery with high-speed performances and complex techniques, but is also an opportunity for Sara Dragan to bring to the audience the breath of Polish violin tradition through the interpretation of a young artist today.
Accompanying her is conductor Kalle Kuusava, a Finnish artist who has made her mark on many European symphony and opera stages. The meeting between a Northern European conductor, a Polish violinist and the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra promises to create interesting colors for the program.
From concert nights to a journey connecting international values
Frozen Fire is the next link in the international art program series that ROX Group has accompanied the Ho Guom Theater and the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra from 2025 to present.
In recent years, Ho Guom Theater has continuously made its mark on the Capital's cultural map with many international-class art programs. At the same time, the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra has also shown strong integration efforts through cooperation projects with many famous artists and conductors from around the world. As one of the companion units, ROX Group wishes to contribute to promoting cultural connections, bringing international artistic values closer to Vietnamese audiences.
2026 is also a special milestone when ROX Group celebrates its 30-year journey with the theme "Building to reach far". If "build" is the spirit of persistently building foundational values, then "reach far" is the aspiration to connect with international standards and bring good values to spread more widely in the community.
At the 30th anniversary event, ROX Group used art as a way of storytelling, recreating memorable milestones of the three-decade journey in a language rich in emotion and depth.
Accompanying international symphony programs also stems from the respect for long-lasting artistic values. Stages like "Frozen Fire" not only bring opportunities to enjoy world classics but also create a space for meeting Vietnamese and international artists, contributing to promoting cultural exchange and expanding cross-border connections.
Going beyond a concert night, the program continues to show efforts to connect social resources with cultural activities, contributing to bringing academic art closer to the Vietnamese public.
