Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi hosted a special gala concert on the evening of July 10 to launch a series of events marking the third anniversary of the venue's inauguration, welcoming three internationally acclaimed opera singers to Vietnam for the first time.

Titled "The Symphony of Time", the concert opened celebrations commemorating the theater's third anniversary since its inauguration on July 9, 2023. The event was organized by Ho Guom Opera House under the direction of the Ministry of Public Security's Department of Political Affairs.

The performance featured soprano Diana Damrau, tenor Javier Camarena and mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti, accompanied by the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra and the Phuong Nam Choir under the baton of conductor Tran Nhat Minh.

The audience enjoyed excerpts from celebrated operas including Roméo et Juliette, Carmen, Norma, La Traviata and Les Contes d'Hoffmann, alongside well-known arias such as Je veux vivre, O mio babbino caro and Casta Diva.

The program also featured Nelle tue mani from the film Gladiator and Astor Piazzolla's Libertango, taking audiences on a musical journey from classical bel canto to familiar cinematic melodies.

Diana Damrau: "Music is medicine for our souls"

Widely regarded as one of today's leading coloratura sopranos, Diana Damrau is best known for her portrayal of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), one of opera's most technically demanding roles.

She has performed at some of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera House in London and the Vienna State Opera. She has also been awarded the title of Kammersängerin by the Bavarian State Opera.

Speaking before the concert, Damrau said it was her first visit to Vietnam, although she had previously worked with a Vietnamese pianist while studying in Salzburg.

She said she had enjoyed Vietnamese cuisine and felt fortunate to be able to perform while traveling with her family.

Reflecting on the development of classical music in Vietnam, Damrau welcomed the cultural exchange made possible through music, describing opera as a comprehensive art form in which performers tell stories through both voice and physical expression.

On the occasion of Ho Guom Theatre's third anniversary, she congratulated the venue and expressed hope that Vietnam would continue developing more artistic institutions of a similar caliber.

Encouraging audiences to simply enjoy music, she said: "Music brings heaven to Earth and is medicine for our souls."

Javier Camarena: From wind chimes to the world's leading bel canto stages

Mexican tenor Javier Camarena is regarded as one of the world's finest bel canto singers, celebrated for his bright voice, refined technique and effortless high notes. He is especially acclaimed for his interpretations of works by Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini.

Speaking to reporters, Camarena recalled that his love of music began with the simple sounds of wind chimes at his grandparents' home. His passion deepened after hearing his hometown orchestra perform Peter and the Wolf and film scores from Indiana Jones and Star Wars.

He said international cultural exchanges such as The Symphony of Time are especially meaningful because music has a profound impact on people, something that scientific research has also demonstrated. Opera, he added, has endured for centuries while retaining its emotional power.

Impressed by Ho Guom Theatre's acoustics and professional team, Camarena said he would gladly return to Vietnam whenever the opportunity for future artistic collaboration arises.

Marina Viotti: Breaking artistic boundaries

Marina Viotti is one of Europe's leading contemporary opera artists, recognized for her richly expressive mezzo-soprano voice and distinctive artistic personality.

Known for her versatility, she has earned acclaim both in traditional opera productions and in innovative cross-genre projects.

On her first visit to Vietnam and Asia, Viotti said she was struck by the blend of tradition and modernity in the city, the country's cuisine and the friendliness and orderliness of its people.

She also praised Ho Guom Theatre, describing it as modern, welcoming and acoustically even better than she had expected.

Reflecting on her artistic journey, Viotti said she had loved both classical music and symphonic metal since childhood, citing the band Nightwish as an early inspiration.

Her performance with Gojira during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games allowed those two passions to come together. She said winning a Grammy Award was recognition for remaining true to herself, a message she hopes will inspire younger generations.

Viotti believes opera should reach beyond its traditional audience and attract new listeners. She expressed hope that her performance in Hanoi would encourage more Vietnamese audiences, especially young people, to experience a full opera production.

Congratulating Ho Guom Theatre on its third anniversary, she said she hopes it will become a cultural space open to the entire community rather than only a select audience, adding that this vision was one of the reasons she accepted the invitation to perform in Vietnam.

Three years of growth

Since opening three years ago, Ho Guom Theatre has staged 279 programs across 320 performances, including 56 events serving the political missions of the Party, the State and the Ministry of Public Security, 48 international productions and 216 ticketed performances.

In the first six months of 2026 alone, the theater presented 82 programs, exceeding its performance target by 102%.

These achievements, together with the appearance of three of the world's leading opera artists at The Symphony of Time, reflect Ho Guom Theatre's ambition to establish itself as a destination for world-class classical performing arts in Vietnam.

Minh Phi

Photo credit: Organizing Committee