After eight years, “Giai dieu mua thu” (Autumn Melodies), which showcases young local classical music talents, will grow in scale and professionalism, with more foreign artists and troupes expected to take part and hands-on, interactive experiences offered for the audience.

The show will grow into a biennial art festival featuring hundreds of local and foreign artists performing symphony, musicals, operas and ballets.

This year’s “Autumn Melodies” festival will feature seven performances, and will take place at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House at 8:30pm from Aug 16 to 22, along with a free “Giai dieu tre” (Youthful melodies) for students at the same venue on Aug 25.

The show will feature seasoned Norwegian choreographer Johanne Jakhelln’s works, famed German pianist Hinrich Alpers and German conductor Christina Schumann alongside local artists, including those belonging to the Vladimir Spivakov International Foundation.

Two discussions on music and dance will also be held at Youth Cultural House and the HCMC Ballet School, as well as two master classes on piano and orchestra conducting at the HCMC Conservatory and Thanh Van Theater. Free tickets are available at 33 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1.

Three years ago, classical concerts like “Giai dieu mua thu” often had trouble selling tickets. However, the festival and several other recent performances by the HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) have sold out.

“The success can be put down to our efforts to promote our shows to potential spectators, such as the free-admission “Giai dieu tre” show for students held on a monthly basis over the past two years, in which young audiences are also provided with knowledge and hands-on experience playing the musical instruments,” shared conductor Tran Vuong Thach, HBSO director.

During the two master classes, participants will be offered a chance to practice conducting an actual orchestra, and those who perform well will be invited to conduct at the August 25 “Giai dieu tre” performance.

“This year’s festival is also to get prepared for the 2015 festival. We aspire to take our festival abroad, but for now, we will make do with featuring foreign artists in our show,” Thach stressed, adding that several foreign orchestras and dance troupes have expressed wishes to join the festival in 2015.