Ho Guom Opera House expands artistic cooperation with Belarusian and Russian partners

In Minsk, Belarus, Major General and People's Artist Nguyen Cong Bay had a working session with Director of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus Catherine Doulova.

During the meeting, Major General Nguyen Cong Bay expressed his desire to expand artist exchange and training programs between the two countries, creating opportunities for Vietnamese artists to gain deeper insights into Belarusian culture while enabling Belarusian artists to learn more about Vietnam’s traditional music and cultural values.

The two sides discussed plans for future artistic cooperation. Accordingly, the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus is expected to stage the classical ballets Cinderella and Giselle at the Ho Guom Opera House in 2027.

The two institutions also explored the possibility of developing large-scale joint productions, in which Belarusian and Vietnamese artists perform together in ballet plays and other artistic programs.

As a highlight of the visit, the Vietnamese artists performed the play “Silk Thread” on June 12 and the play “Vietnamese Soul” on June 13 at the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus.

The performances were not only artistic events but also vivid demonstrations of the close cooperation between the two theatres following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Ho Guom Opera House on May 8, 2026.

In Saint Petersburg, Russia, Major General and People's Artist Nguyen Cong Bay and the delegation visited and had a working session with the St. Petersburg Philharmonia, hosted by its Director Ilya Cherkasov.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), laying the foundation for a long-term partnership between the Ho Guom Opera House and the St. Petersburg Philharmonia.

Under the MoU, the two sides will maintain annual consultations to develop specific cooperation plans and jointly organize cultural events, concert programs and artistic exchange activities.

Accordingly, artists and orchestras from the St. Petersburg Philharmonia will regularly perform at the Ho Guom Opera House, while the Ho Guom Opera House will send its artists and performing troupes to Saint Petersburg for performances and cultural exchanges.

In addition to performance activities, the two institutions agreed to strengthen cooperation in education and training through artist exchange programs, internships and professional development activities. They will also invite experienced conductors, musicians and opera artists to participate in teaching and coaching programs, thereby contributing to improving the quality and professional capacity of artists of both institutions.