This project marks the confident and professional debut of a young vocalist who has matured from an academic training environment.
Dang Ngoc Anh was born in 2004 in Chuong My (Hanoi) and is currently a final-year student in the Vocal Department at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Prior to that, in 2024, she won the Gold Cup at the Asia Arts Festival in Singapore and first prize in the Chamber Music category at the Hanoi Singing Contest.
Emerging from the competition with a major launching pad, instead of choosing the safe option of releasing a digital single or pursuing popular pop music, Ngoc Anh decided to invest in creating a physical album and an elaborately staged chamber symphony music video.
At the press conference for the album and music video launch on the afternoon of October 6th, the female singer shared: “This is a rather big project for a young singer, especially since I am still in the process of learning and improving myself. But if I wait until I feel 'good enough' or 'mature enough' to start, I will never have the perfect moment. Instead of trying to surpass the shadow of the award, I choose to step out of that shadow with new products.”
The album "Leaving Autumn Behind" compiles familiar compositions about Hanoi by many famous musicians: Remembering Hanoi, Hanoi on a Winter Night, October Emotions, When the City Lights Up, Heading Towards Hanoi, Song of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem, After Days of Long-Distance Love.
Performing works that have been associated with many generations presents the challenge of refreshing them without losing their original essence. The singer shared that she wants to infuse the songs with the spirit of Generation Z, helping the works retain the essence of the past but making them more accessible to today's audience. The album title also reflects a mindset of continuity: "Staying" doesn't mean standing still, but preserving the beautiful values of Hanoi as a foundation for moving forward.
In particular, the music video "After Days of Long-Distance Love" - a new composition by musician Tran Manh Hung (lyrics by Ha Quang Minh), written specifically for Ngoc Anh and Dr. Nguyen Khanh Ly - left a deep impression, depicting the love story of young people in Hanoi during peacetime against a backdrop of chamber symphony music.
The music video utilizes 3D spatial technology combined with AI to recreate heritage settings such as the Old Quarter, Hoa Phong Tower, and the old Hanoi train station. Director Viet Dang stated that the team prioritized the "accuracy" of the settings, affirming that technology does not replace academic material but rather opens up additional visual expression methods for a genre of music that is rich in spatial elements and storytelling.
The CD "Sending Autumn Back" and the music video "After Days of Long-Distance Love" were officially released on October 6, 2026.
Commenting on the two products, Associate Professor, Doctor, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Tan Nhan, Head of the Vocal Department (Vietnam National Academy of Music), remarked that the project demonstrated meticulous attention to both artistic and technical aspects. Despite her young age, Ngoc Anh has affirmed her serious approach to her profession, contributing a promising representative to the classical music genre that has matured within an academic environment.
For Dang Ngoc Anh, the award is just the first milestone. She affirms that her goal is to build a long-term artistic career and find ways to bring classical music closer to young audiences.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/quan-quan-tieng-hat-ha-noi-dang-ngoc-anh-ra-mat-bo-doi-am-nhac-ve-thu-do-1759812.html
