The opinion was made when conductor Tran Nhat Minh, Head of the Opera Company, Ho Chi Minh City Symphony - Music - Dance Theater (HBSO), interviewed Thanh Nien about the following lessons on promoting cultural diplomacy trip above.
From the mark of a concert tour
As a member of the art troupe – as a conductor, can you share more about the last performance as well as the artist's feelings when together creating this "impression"?
For a long time, we often see ethnic music as a safe formula in cultural exchange performances. With this art troupe, there is a balanced combination between academic music and folk music, between Western musical instruments and Vietnamese traditional instruments (dan bau, T'rung).
The troupe performed at the Italian Presidential Palace
We performed 3 shows, with 3 different stagings for expatriates and international friends. Accordingly, the short task set for the art troupe is to capture the tears of the compatriots and gain the respect of international friends.
All 3 programs ended with the song Vietnam of my homeland (musician Do Nhuan), with different forms: there is a piano accompaniment, there is a string arrangement and all the artists participate. Strings are almost the main player, there are independent strings.
With the first program in the capital Vienna (Austria), this is like a spiritual gift of President Vo Van Thuong to overseas Vietnamese, and everything took place properly and solemnly, which was very warmly received by everyone. feeling, warm.
The next show in Austria, the troupe performed in a very famous auditorium - the Haydn Saal concert hall in Esterhazy castle, Burgenland. This castle is where the Austrian musician Joseph Haydn - known as the "father of the symphony" - used to host concerts.
As planned, this program lasted 1 hour, but was extended to nearly 2 hours because the guests were very attentive and did not want to end. Fortunately, the group prepared a lot of performances, so they took full charge of the extra time to perform.
State President Vo Van Thuong shared with the art troupe that while enjoying, Mr. Peter Doskozil, Premier of Burgenland, expressed surprise and impression with the level and performance of Vietnamese artists, In particular, he invited the conductor if he had the opportunity to return to participate in the Haydn Festival (annual) of the state of Burgenland.
Then, the troupe performed in the Cappella Paolina Presidential Palace in Rome (Italy), with the participation of President Vo Van Thuong and his wife, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter and many high-ranking officials of the two countries. The guests invited to the Presidential Palace to watch the show were Rome's elite and also a number of artists. Here, I met again conductor Paolo Olmi – who went to Vietnam to perform in the program with HBSO in 2022.
When Vietnam welcomes foreign diplomatic missions, what will the music performance usually look like?
In the shows that HBSO artists participate in, we find that the music includes both Vietnamese and partner music, sometimes with a solo artist from your country.
The recent trip, with two performances in front of international friends, showed the balance between the two countries' music as well as between Vietnamese traditional music and Western classical music. I opened with a song from your country, then European classical music, and Vietnamese music…
For example, on the day of the performance at the Italian Presidential Palace, Vietnamese music included the Dance of the Central Highlands (Hoang Dam) performed by the T'rung solo, the accompaniment of the chamber orchestra or the South of our homeland (Huy Du) performed by the monochord lute. performed with the accompaniment of a chamber orchestra, and my homeland Vietnam.
Photos of the show at the Haydn auditorium (Esterhazy, Austria)
After the show, did you “think more” about the profession – about your art form?
For me personally, this is the most effective trip. We feel the importance of the work we do, very specific, as the highlight. As an artist, of course I will find my performances important, but the overall picture of this trip, the emotions left behind… can be said to be impressive.
I think, next to the traditional music In Vietnam, boldly bringing other art forms – specifically classical academic music – to the world, taking on such national responsibilities… the team of artists is ready.
Previously, the "balance" was slightly reversed, when going abroad, it was usually national music. Of course, the power of national music in cultural diplomacy cannot be denied, as evidenced by the sound of dan bau and T'rung in the auditorium - an ancient castle in the middle of Europe, we are very proud. . But this time, the combination of academic music and traditional Vietnamese music showed a very different effect: I performed your song, then used Western instruments to accompany my ethnic traditional instruments. , are all good.
I think it was this that brought the surprise and admiration of those present that day…
Long Pham / Source: Thanh Nien Magazine
