Art & Entertainment News 10/4

Hanoi to launch fireworks marking National Reunification Day

Hanoi will set off a high-range fireworks display at five locations as part of activities to celebrate National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975-2015), announced the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on April 7.

The 15-minute shows are scheduled for 9:00 pm on April 30 at Hoan Kiem lake (Hoan Kiem district), Thong Nhat park (Hai Ba Trung district), Van Quan Lake (Ha Dong district), My Dinh National Stadium (Nam Tu Liem district) and Son Tay Town’s Flower Garden.

A wide range of activities will also be held on the occasion. The Ho Chi Minh City Television Cup Bicycle Race will kick off at 7:00 am at Ly Thai To monument on April 11. A live programme linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will be staged at the Vietnam Military History Museum later the same day.

A national celebration scheduled at My Dinh National Convention Center, along with arts performances, sporting events, exhibitions, and talks will be held on May 18 to celebrate 125th birthday of the President Ho Chi Minh.

International choir competition to celebrate Reunification Day

The fourth International Choir Competition will be held in the ancient town of Hoi An, in central Quang Nam province, in celebration of the Southern Liberation and National Reunification (April 30) and May Day (May 1).

More than 1,500 artists from 15 countries around the world are expected to compete in 13 categories at the event, taking place from April 29 to May 3.

Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Dinh Hai said the contest creates a chance for chorus lovers to learn from each other and increase their mutual understanding of culture, friendship, solidarity and co-operation.

Hoi An was selected by the German Interkultur organisation in 2011 to host the first international choir competition in Vietnam.

The organising board will arrange choir troupes to perform international melodies on the street to serve visitors, in addition to dance and instrument performances.

Hoi An Ancient Town, recognised by UNESCO in 1999, is an old trading port dating back to the 15th century. Its architecture and layout reflect the indigenous and foreign influences that melted together to produce the unique character of the town.

In 2012, Hoi An was shortlisted in the top ten Asian cities for US magazine Conde Nast’s Traveller’s Readers Choice Awards.

The following year, the city was chosen for the Townscape Award by the UN-Habitat Regional Office in Asia.

Most recently, the city placed fifth in the Top City category of the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2015.

Charity concert “Symphony No. 9” opens in Hanoi

The Vietnam-Japan Charity Choir and Concert Performance “Symphony No. 9” will be held at the Hanoi Opera House on April 11.

Since 1995, the Japanese have held a series of “Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9” charity choirs and concerts across European countries. Two decades later, Hanoi has been chosen as the first Asian destination of the tour.

Symphony No. 9 (also known as “the Choral”) is Beethoven’s final complete symphony. Completed in 1824, it is one of the best-known works in classical music. Part of the piece forms the official song of the European Union (EU).

The Symphony will be performed by the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO), Japanese and Vietnamese choruses, soloists Sano Masahito (Baritone), Uehara Masatoshi (Tenor), Phuong Nga (sopranpo), Phuong Uyen (alto), under the baton of Japanese conductor Kotahara Yukio.

It has been nearly a century since Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 was first performed in Japan in 1918. Japanese consider choir and concert performances of Symphony No. 9 to be part of their culture.

First International Watercolour Exhibition to open in Hanoi

The first International Watercolour Exhibition displaying 90 watercolour paintings by 51 local and international artists will be open to the public in Hanoi from April 11 to 15.

The exhibition features 40 famous artists from 22 countries, including Britain, the US, France, Italy, Turkey, Canada, China, Poland, Hungary, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, Nepal, Japan, Thailand, Russia, Uruguay and Latvia.

Around 15 Vietnamese artists, including Bui Duy Khanh from Hai Phong city and his outstanding paintings of the sea, will also take part in the event.

Master watercolour artists Liu Yi from China, Stan Miller from the US, Atanur from Canada, Direk Kingnok from Thailand and Bui Duy Khanh of Vietnam will demonstrate and join a workshop on watercolour painting on April 11 and 12.

The exhibition is being organised by the International Watercolor Society (IWS) Vietnam, a member of the IWS which was founded by Canadian watercolour artist Atanur and based in Turkey. The IWS Vietnam was established in May 2014, creating the first large professional playground for watercolour artists and art lovers.

The exhibition is open to the public for free from 10am to 8pm at Hang Da Galleria, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.

Berlin Club Night to rock the city

The Goethe Institute is holding a Berlin Club Night featuring Berlin-based artists at The Observatory on Sunday.

Artists include multi-instrumentalist, music producer and DJs Chi Thanh and Chopstick (Chi Tien Nguyen), who produce techno, house, electro and hip hop music, and music manager Lutz Leichsenring, a member of Berlin’s Chamber of Commerce and Musicboard.

The show will start at 9pm at 5 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, District 4. Entrance is free.

British DJ to perform at Cargo Bar

British DJ Graham Gold, who was ranked number 83 on the Most Popular DJs in the World of All Time list, will be at the Cargo Bar on Saturday.

Gold is popular for trance and house music. He has been invited to perform in 150 cities in 43 countries, and at international music festivals such as Glastonbury and Passion.

His performance, to begin at 8pm, will be accompanied by the HCM City-based Psycho and Nic Ford.

The concert is at 7 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4.

Admission is VND170,000 in advance at www.ticketbox.vn and VND220,000 at the door.

Belly Dance Festival opens next week

A Belly Dance Festival will take place at the Saigon Belly Dance Centre from April 17-19.

The event will include eight workshops conducted by dancers Alex DeLora and Klara Daila Jansikova from Ukraine, and Brancy Nekvapil from Malaysia. They will join local dancers at a gala show on April 19.

Admission fee for the workshops is between US$45 and 70, and for the show $15-20.

The centre is at 94-96 Street No 2, Do Thanh Condominium, in District 4.

For more information on the event and workshop schedule, see www.saigonbellydance.com.

Black Box begins basic ballet

The Black Box Studio will open basic ballet classes for adults on Tuesdays and Thurdays, starting from April 16.

The class will be conducted by ballet dancer Do Hoang Thi Ngoc, who graduated from the Viet Nam Dance College and performed as a principal at the Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB). He also collaborated with the renowned French choreographer Regine Chopinot and her company Ballet Alantique. Ngoc is currently teaching contemporary dance at Black Box Studio and the Military University of Culture and Arts.

The class is limited to 16 students. The tuition fee is VND7,000,000.

For more details, contact Mr Tu (+84 904872511).

The Black Box Studio is at 56 Nguyen Khuyen Street.

Walk the city with VN Heritage

Friends of Vietnam Heritage (FVH) will host two English-speaking city walks this weekend.

Saturday’s tour, with the theme “The Evolution of Colonial Style Architecture”, will start at Ly Thai To Park next to the old post office – the heart of the French colony during the first decades of the 20th century. From there, the group will walk toward the Opera House and down toward the School of Pharmacy, originally the University of Ha Noi, designed by French architect Ernest Hebrard.

Following the wide, tree-lined boulevards of Ly Thuong Kiet and Tran Hung Dao, participants will trace the evolution of French colonial style architecture from the turn of the century to the end of the French era in the 1940s.

On Sunday, FVH will take its guests to discover Lan Ong Street, which is well-known for its herbal medicine. A number of herbs and materials will be shown along the street. The group will also tour several nearby streets with notable architecture, religious buildings and history around the area – including Cha Ca Street, with its 100-year-old famous cha ca (charcoal-grilled fish) restaurant.

Both two tours cost VND70,000/tour/person.

Contact Katie Jacobs at katielaurenjacobs@gmail.com for the Saturday tour and Loan at phuongloan2704@gmail.com for the Sunday tour.

Lacquerwork goes on show

Artist Tran Quang Hai will showcase his lacquer artwork in his exhibition Hanh Trinh Bat Tan (Endless Journey), which will open at 5.30pm on Saturday at Heritage Space.

Through its cracks; its colours of red, crimson and gold; and its simple figures, Hai’s artwork presents the traditional art form while still expressing his unique personality.

The exhibition will run until April 30 at Heritage Space, located within Dolphin Plaza, 28 Tran Binh Street in My Dinh.

New TV programme appeals to young music lovers

Romantic songs continue to be loved by different generations as shown through a new music programme on Vinh Long Radio and Television Station (VLRT).

Tinh Ca Viet (Vietnamese Love Songs) features romantic and folk works in praise of people, life and love. Many of the songs are written and composed by veterans and young talents.

Broadcast weekly in the studios of VLRT, the programme’s first show last Monday left a strong impression on audiences nationwide.

The 60-minute show, Tinh Hoai Huong (Love and Nostalgia), featured pop stars Bao Yen and Hong Hanh, and folk singers Ai Xuan, Dinh Van and Quang Linh.

Vietnamese-American singers Giao Linh, Ngoc Anh and Phi Nhung were also included.

The artists performed with the support of dancers from traditional art troupes in the region.

They sang famous songs based on folk tunes composed by veteran musicians such as Pho Duc Phuong, Thanh Tung and Hong Dang.

The second show will feature young pop singers including Cao Thai Son, Uyen Trang and Phan Dinh Tung.

Music has long been young people’s favourite form of entertainment. But many students and workers find ticket prices for live music shows expensive and have turned to radio or television.

In a move to win larger audiences share amid fierce competition among local music producers, VLRT and other TV stations have devoted facilities and human resources to produce quality music programmes.

The Viet Nam Television (VTV) now broadcasts 20 music shows every month, including shows like Ca KhucVuot Thoi Gian (Forever Songs) and Tuoi Tre Va Uoc Mo (Youth and Dream) and Bai Hat Viet (Vietnamese Songs).

Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) has also produced shows aimed young people.

“We hope to reach youth through music shows,” Nguyen Quy Hoa, general director of the HTV, said.

Two of the station’s regular music shows Nhip Cau Am Nhac (Music Bridge) and Giot Nang Phu Sa (The Sunlight) are popular with urban and rural audiences.

While Nhip Cau Am Nhac offers contemporary music, Giot Nang Phu Sa features traditional songs. Both shows broadcast monthly and have attracted many veteran and young singers and music players.

U.S. music artists care for local unlucky kids

The 11-member Pink Martini orchestral band from the U.S. on April 2 visited and donated gifts to underprivileged kids of HCMC-based NGO Poussieres de Vie at Phu Tho Stadium in District 11.

The band’s visit to Vietnam is aimed at raising funds for education and healthcare activities to help needy children of Poussieres de Vie in HCMC and the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum through a gig at Gem Center and another at Ben Thanh Theater on April 2-3.

Vietnam is a leg of the band’s Asia tour that also takes in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and Seoul.

Lead vocalist/composer China Forbes, the sole female member of the band, told the Daily that the meeting with these children with the arrangement by Poussieres de Vie and Nike, one of the NGO’s donors, is just overwhelming.

“We don’t get to do things like this everyday. We’re so happy and we hope the charity auction tonight will be a huge success. It’s such an emotional day for us.”

Forbes also shared that the band wished to perform a Vietnamese song with a local singer. However, due to the busy schedule the band will try their best to perform a Vietnamese song by themselves at Ben Thanh Theater tonight and Forbes is practicing this piece which hasn’t been unveiled yet.

The band is planning to have their new album in one or two years after their eighth one Dream a Little Dream revealed last March.

Pink Martini, which was founded by Thomas Lauderdale in 1994 in Portland, Oregon, performs music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop.

Lauderdale and Forbes’ first song “Sympathique” became an overnight sensation in France, was nominated for “Song of the Year” at France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards, and to this day remains a mantra (“Je ne veux pas travailler” or “I don’t want to work”) for striking French workers. The band has performed throughout Europe, Asia, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America and North America.

Thanh Hoa: Ba Trieu relic site receives national honour

The central province of Thanh Hoa held a ceremony in Hau Loc district on April 7 to receive the special national relic site title for the Ba Trieu historical-architectural relic and launch the Ba Trieu festival.

The honour came in celebration of the 2015 National Tourism Year which is underway in Thanh Hoa city following the theme “Connecting World Heritage”.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and leaders of central and local ministries and departments were present at the ceremony.

The Ba Trieu historical-architectural relic site, encompassing Ba Trieu Temple and Phu Dien communal house, is located about 17km north of Thanh Hoa city. It is dedicated to Ba Trieu (Lady Trieu) or Trieu Thi Trinh, a female warrior of Vietnam in the 3 rd century, who raised a rebellion against Ngo (Wu) invaders.

Undergoing several restorations and embellishments, the spiritual architecture of the site has still maintained many original artistic values constituting a Vietnamese ancient village.

The Ba Trieu Temple, in particular, was upgraded through the Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen dynasties (10 th -19 th centuries). In 1979, Ba Trieu Temple was ranked as a national historic-cultural relic. Later in 1996, the Phu Dien communal house got the same status.

The Ba Trieu Temple festival is scheduled to be held from April 9 to 11 (from the 21st day to 23rd day of the second lunar month) featuring a series of rites and traditional activities.

“Viet Nam Su Luoc” (A Brief history of Vietnam) – a history book written in the early 20th century by Vietnamese historian Tran Trong Kim, described Lady Trieu, who was born in 226, as a strong, brave and smart person.

She was quoted as saying “I only want to ride the wind and walk the waves, slay the big whales of the Eastern sea, clean up frontiers, and save the people from drowning. Why should I imitate others, bow my head, stoop over and be a slave? Why resign myself to menial housework?”

In 248, Lady Trieu led her troops to fight against Ngo invaders. When she went to battles, she usually wore yellow tunics and rode a war-elephant. She proclaimed herself “Nhụy Kiều Tướng quân” (The Lady General clad in Golden Robe).

Because of the lack of troops, she could not manage a long war and was defeated. She fled to Bo Dien commune (now Phu Dien commune, My Hoa district) and then committed suicide.

Later, the Nam De (Southern Emperor) of the early Ly dynasty ( 1010-1225) praised her as a brave and loyal person and ordered his followers to build her a temple, and gave her the title “Bật chính anh hùng tài trinh nhất phu nhân” (Most Noble, Heroic and Virgin Lady).

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri

Art & Entertainment News 10/4

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