Innovative concert brings symphonic music closer to Vietnamese audience

“Once Upon A Time - Disney’s Dream Magic in Concert” will take place at Ho Xuan Huong Arena in Ho Chi Minh City on July 19 and 20, and is is expected to attract more than 3,200 attendees across generations, with a particular focus on children and families.

Unlike conventional concerts, Once Upon A Time seeks to reframe the way audiences experience orchestral music, not just as listeners, but as participants immersed in an artistic journey. Under the baton of young and rising conductor Dustin Tieu and performed by the Imagine Philharmonic Orchestra, the programme invites the audience into a world where classical symphony meets cinematic imagination, fairy-tale narratives, and interactive engagement.

Once Upon A Time is a new chapter for symphonic music in Vietnam. Photo: OrcheStar

In the context of Vietnam’s evolving cultural landscape, where classical music remains relatively distant from the public, this concert signals an important shift, moving symphonic performance from formal theatre venues to more open, inclusive community spaces. By choosing a sports arena over a traditional hall, OrcheStars has taken a bold step in redefining audience connection.

“Symphony is no longer the privilege of the few because music knows no boundaries and speaks to every heart,” Luong Nha Thi, OrcheStars’s representative, told VIR. “We believe that quality music, even symphonic, when told through a language that is approachable, interactive, and sincere, can touch people’s hearts, especially the younger generation.”

Once Upon A Time is part of a broader creative direction led by Vietnam’s new generation of artists, among them, conductor Dustin Tieu, recognised as one of the country’s youngest and most innovative classical talents. Through unconventional concert formats and fresh interpretations, Tiêu and his team aim to reposition orchestral music as a living, relevant, and accessible form of expression, particularly for young families and first-time concertgoers.

Photo: OrcheStar

The programme features iconic music from beloved Disney stories such as Frozen, Moana, Coco, Toy Story, and The Lion King. Through a carefully designed performance concept, children can engage with live fairy-tale characters in real time, while adults revisit timeless memories of childhood. More than a concert, the experience becomes a shared cultural encounter, one that bridges generations through music, memory, and imagination.

As Vietnam continues to explore new approaches to arts engagement and creative industries, Once Upon A Time presents a compelling case for cultural innovation: embracing tradition while opening new paths for connection, inclusion, and artistic vitality.

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