Chopin: The magical piano – Touching the heart and emotions of the audience

Having first come to know Nguyễn Việt Trung when he made his debut at the age of nine, winning his first award, and following his artistic journey ever since, I have developed deep admiration for his confidence, maturity, and clear artistic direction.  

With “Chopin: The Magical Piano”, the audience was treated to the full experience of Chopin’s two piano concertos. Nguyễn Việt Trung performed “Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11”, a work divided into three movements, each carrying its own distinct mood, encapsulating Chopin’s unique musical spirit. The first movement, “Allegro maestoso (E Minor)”, opens with a powerful and resolute orchestral introduction. As the music softens, Nguyễn Việt Trung enters with a striking solo passage. His fingers glided effortlessly across the keys, breathing life into each note, delivering a profoundly moving experience to the audience. The shimmering, fluid, and deeply expressive melodies showcased not only his technical mastery but also his ability to fully immerse himself in the emotional depth of Chopin’s music—a defining characteristic of the composer’s style. The audience was easily drawn into the romantic, delicate, yet deeply emotive atmosphere of the second movement. The third movement, “Rondo – Vivace (E Major)”, inspired by the lively Polish folk dance Krakowiak, radiated energy and exuberance. It was a perfect interplay between the pianist’s dazzling virtuosity and the orchestra’s playful, spirited accompaniment.  

Listening to Trung play Chopin, I sometimes felt an urge to sing along, while at other moments, I was completely captivated by the ethereal, hypnotic flow of sound, as if under a spell. At times, my heart pounded, my emotions welled up, and I felt an overwhelming surge of sentiment. Nguyễn Việt Trung conveyed the full lyricism and finesse of Chopin’s music through graceful, seductive, and sophisticated melodies. His performance was not only technically impeccable but also imbued with deep emotion, resonating profoundly with the hearts of the audience.

With the exceptional acoustics of the Hồ Gươm Theater, each note from the piano resonated with unparalleled clarity and purity. The seamless fusion of the artist’s talent and the venue’s superior sound quality allowed Chopin’s music to unfold in the heart of the capital with remarkable delicacy, depth, and emotional power.

At the “Chopin: The magical piano” concert, the audience was also treated to the performance of pianist Eric Lu in Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21”. Eric Lu could not contain his excitement as he spoke about returning to Vietnam after five years and receiving such enthusiastic support from the audience. This occasion was even more special as he performed alongside his close friend, Nguyễn Việt Trung. “These are moments I will cherish forever!” - Eric Lu shared.

Eric Lu and Nguyễn Việt Trung embody a burning passion and an unyielding ambition to reach the pinnacle of the global piano performance scene. Their harmony stems not only from individual talent but also from a deep friendship beyond the stage. They share common ground, from their unwavering dedication to music to their mutual inspiration in learning and artistic growth. While each pianist’s style reflects their unique musical personality, their synergy results in performances of extraordinary depth and emotion, leaving audiences in awe. 

Speaking about Chopin’s music, Trung shared: “I was exposed to Chopin’s music from an early age, which has been a great advantage. His music is deeply lyrical and poetic, which I believe aligns with my strengths in performing his works. Playing Chopin requires a great deal of wrist flexibility. Once the technique is mastered, one can free the mind and simply let emotions flow with the music. I am drawn to the light in music—it has layers, different amplitudes. That mesmerizing light guides me through the tonal narrative of each piece. Listening to sound is not just about hearing but about understanding its color, the contrast between light and dark. Each shade of brightness must be expressed through the piano, along with the density and depth of tones buried beneath the surface, distinct from mere darkness. I seek out the creative principles within each passage to convey emotions with both subtlety and an almost ‘seductive’ quality. Another aspect I deeply appreciate in Chopin’s compositions is their improvisational nature.” 

The highlight of the second night of “Echoes of Genius: An Evening with Beethoven, Mozart & Brahms” was the highly anticipated collaboration between Eric Lu and Nguyễn Việt Trung in a special piece—Mozart’s Concerto No. 10, K. 365 for Two Pianos. Composed in Salzburg in the late 1770s, this is Mozart’s only concerto for two pianos, showcasing not only his compositional brilliance but also the evolution of the concerto form from the Baroque to the Classical era. Thunderous applause and endless praise followed the exquisite performance by Nguyễn Việt Trung, Eric Lu, and the Sun Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Olivier Ochanine. Their interpretation was profoundly emotional, refined, and elegant.

As we know, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a composer renowned for his adherence to the strict stylistic and structural principles of the Classical era—his music characterized by clarity, balance, fluid melodies, and rich harmonies. The audience was captivated by the seamless melodic lines of Mozart’s work, brought to life through the masterful technique of the two pianists. The performance left such a lasting impression that George Laurent, an American audience member, exclaimed: “It’s beyond words! This was an extraordinary musical experience for me. The artists weren’t just playing music; they were telling a story, and I felt completely drawn into that narrative through every note. I could not only sense the delicate harmony between the two pianists but also see the profound connection between them and the orchestra, guided by the maestro’s brilliance. They were conversing in the language of music, creating a spellbinding atmosphere. It felt as if Mozart had composed this piece just for them to perform in this breathtaking moment.”

The resounding and unrelenting applause from the audience was the clearest testament to the night’s overwhelming success.  

Both concerts were nothing short of magical, and their echoes will linger in the hearts of the audience—just as the program’s name suggests. Music is the thread that connects people across generations, transcending race and ethnicity. It is the harmony between yin and yang, the bridge between heaven and earth, the sound of time that links the past and the present. Under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Olivier Ochanine, alongside the Sun Symphony Orchestra, the musicians delivered a transcendent experience that was nothing short of extraordinary—an unparalleled gift to audiences on those early winter nights at Hồ Gươm Theater in Hanoi, a venue that has become a meeting place for the finest musical talents from Vietnam and around the world.  

According to the organizers, staging two grand performances with nearly 100 musicians on stage was no small feat, requiring tremendous effort from the Vietnam Classical Music Association’s Mobilization Committee, with the dedicated support of Hồ Gươm Theater, the Sun Symphony Orchestra, and Dr. Nguyễn Văn Thân, Head of the Mobilization Committee. Nguyễn Việt Trung, Eric Lu, and their families, along with the event’s Organizing Committee, played a vital role in making the concerts a reality. Their efforts were also bolstered by sponsorship from Taekwang Group, Hòa Phát Group, Saigon – Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB), T&T Group, and GFS Group.

Born in 1996 in Hanoi, Nguyễn Việt Trung moved to Poland with his family before turning one and began his professional piano training at the age of seven. Following numerous national awards in Poland, he continued to achieve remarkable success: the “Golden Note Award” for his outstanding performance of Mozart (Poland, 2006), fourth prize at the Frederic Chopin International Competition in Antonin (Poland), second prize at the Ludwik Stefanski - Halina Czerny Stefanska International Competition (Poland, 2008), and second prize at the International Chopin Competition for Young Talents (2010). In 2021, he participated in the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and won first prize at the National Piano Festival: Chopin’s Interpretations of the Young.  

As a young soloist, Nguyễn Việt Trung has been invited to perform with renowned orchestras such as the Podkarpackie Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw Symphony Orchestra, Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Lublin Philharmonic, Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, and the Sun Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of distinguished conductors including Honna Tetsuji, Olivier Ochanine, Łukasz Borowicz, and Lê Phi Phi. His musical journey has taken him to prestigious stages across Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Denmark, Russia, Hungary, Poland, the United States, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and beyond. He has also collaborated with esteemed chamber ensembles such as Ulysses Quartet, Arod Quartet, and Arso Quintet. With his deeply expressive and creative performance style, Nguyễn Việt Trung captivates audiences by conveying profound emotions through every keystroke and facial expression—an artistry that has earned him admiration both in Vietnam and internationally.

Nguyễn Việt Trung performs works by various composers, each with a unique interpretative approach and expressive style. However, for him, Chopin’s music flows through his veins, an inescapable passion.

"Chopin's music came to me naturally because I grew up and studied in Poland", Trung shared. "When I was five, my mother bought Chopin’s tapes and played them for me every night. At my music school, in every exam or recital, the institution and audiences alike always expected us to perform Chopin’s works. As I matured, I delved deeper into his life and the social context of the 1840s. Chopin’s music profoundly influences not only me but also my family. There were moments when my mother and I considered taking a break from playing Chopin to explore new artistic inspirations, but his music has become an inseparable part of my life. The defining moment in my musical career came when I was 12. After a performance, I saw the glimmering tears in the audience’s eyes. They told me, ‘We feel Poland here, we feel Chopin here.’ That was the moment I knew I had to dedicate myself to music—because only through music can one evoke such deep emotions and connections."  

On this return to Vietnam, Nguyễn Việt Trung not only delivered breathtaking performances in two concerts with the Sun Symphony Orchestra but also took part in the 40th Anniversary Concert of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra and conducted Master Classes for students at the Piano Department of the Vietnam National Academy of Music.  

Every international tour and every homecoming adds new experiences to Nguyễn Việt Trung’s artistic journey, allowing him to share his passion with audiences worldwide.