Rarely seen posters exhibited

A special collection of posters is on display at the Viet Nam Museum of Fine Arts. Entitled A Revolutionary Spirit, the show features large-scale reproductions of rarely seen original art works produced between the 1960s and early 1980s.

"I liked the painting featuring children playing basketball the most," said Nguyen Thu Huong, a reporter from An Ninh Thu Do (Capital Security) newspaper, at the opening ceremony on Thursday.

"It's interesting to know what the children wore and how they played together in the 1960s. It is half a century ago."

The painting, by artist Le Thiep, bears the slogan Chung Em Cung Yeu The Thao The Duc (We Also Love Physical Exercise). It is one of about 70 artworks from the Dogma Collection of collector Dominic Scriven.

Many of the works have rarely been seen since the roaming exhibitions of the 1960's and 1970's, which were presented in the north as well as the south.

"These were often staged under forest canopies or in hamlet clearings at considerable risk to the viewers and artists alike," Scriven explained.

When he was in Ha Noi in the 1990s, "neon was rare and advertising a fringe activity." These painted posters were the "colour overhanging the streets of ochre villas".

The posters at the exhibition bear slogans such as Move to Deserted Regions Turn Forest and Mountains into Rice Fields; You Fight The Enemy I Will Take Care of Home; The Southern Female Guerrillas Are Truly Full of Guts. These reflect the revolutionary spirit of the period, as well as determination to unite the nation and promote national construction.

"The exhibition is unique, providing a truthful look at the past which I experienced," said veteran composer Doan Nho.

"We are moved to have a chance to see the posters that help the young generation understand about difficult times of the country."

The exhibition also includes enlargements of early and extremely rare art proofs of Vietnamese stamps, as well as a video featuring interviews with poster artists subtitled in English.

Co-organised by Mekong Artist Company and the Viet Nam Museum of Fine Arts, the exhibition will run until January 19 at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.

Tunnels recognised as national heritage site

The Vinh Moc Tunnel system in central Quang Tri Province's Vinh Linh District has been recognised as a national special heritage site following a decision by the government.

The system of underground tunnels, built by locals and Vietnamese soldiers from 1965-68, includes 114 tunnels that run through 15 villages. They protected locals and soldiers from American bombs during the war, keeping thousands of people safe inside for days.

The governmental decision puts the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and provincial authorities in charge of conserving the heritage site.

It also recognises temples, pagodas and historical sites around the country, including temples and tombs for Ly Dynasty (1009-1225) kings in Bac Ninh, Thay Pagoda in Ha Noi and Tay Son worshiping complex in Binh Dinh.

Eight streets named after Vietnamese artists

The HCM City People's Committee has issued a decision on naming eight streets in District 9 after talented Vietnamese poets, musicians and performers.

The artists include poets Nguyen Dinh Thi, Xuan Quynh; poet and composer Diep Minh Tuyen, Trinh Cong Son, and cai luong actresses Thanh Nga and Ut Tra On.

Le Ton Thanh, standing deputy director of the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper that all eight artists had made great contributions to promote and develop culture and arts of the city as well as Viet Nam.

The city has also decided there would be 23 roads in District 12 to be named after Vietnamese heroic mothers like Ha Thi Khiem, Le Thi Nho and Ha Thi Kheo.

Under the decision, the districts' People's Committee and relevant agencies like the departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Transport, and Construction will be in charge of naming the streets.

Youth concert to commemorate late singer Anh

Fifty young singers will participate in the first television music show Toi Toa Sang (I Shine) of 2015, which will commemorate the late talented singer Wanbi Tuan Anh, Vu Thanh Vinh, director of the show, said at a press conference yesterday.

Pop singer Wanbi Tuan Anh, who was once a top teenage singer with several hits between 2010 and 2011, died in July 2013 due to complications from a brain tumor at the age of 26.

"The number of singers who have registered to join the programme want to represent an energetic, optimistic person who lived with all heart for his passion," Vinh said.

The theme of the show will be Cam On (Thank You), which is also the name of one of Wanbi's hits.

The performance will likely centre on Wanbi's autobiography Bat Dau Tu Mot Ket Thuc (Starting from the End), which will unfold one after the other by the singer's friends and colleagues.

The show will take place at 8pm on January 17, and will be broadcast live on VTV9, VTV Hue, VTV Phu Yen and VTV Lam Dong, and several other regional television channels.

The monthly live show for young singers Toi Toa Sang airs at 8pm on the third Saturday of each month.

Norwegian trio to perform jazz show in Ha Noi

Anne Marte Trio from Norway will perform for the first time in Viet Nam.

While jazz is often performed on piano and saxophone, band members Anne Marte Eggen, Nils Andersson and Niklas Cvetkovski play electric bass and guitar. The concert will also feature 18-year-old Vietnamese drummer Le Minh Hieu.

Eggen has always been passionate about music and found herself particularly drawn to the electric bass. In 2008, her interest in music brought her to Sweden where she studied jazz for two years. Later she received a bachelor's degree in jazz electric bass at Malmo Academy of Music. She is active as both a bass player and composer in several bands in Norway and Sweden such as pop-jazz group We Float, folk-jazz band Ljom and experimental jazz quartet Kvalia. She has performed at many jazz festivals in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the US.

The concert begins at 8.30pm on Sunday at Don's, 16 Quang An Street, Tay Ho District.

HBSO to host Johann Strauss gala

The Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) on January 10 will feature a sparkling assortment of the much loved music of Johann Strauss under the baton of Le Phi Phi at the HCM city Opera House.

The music of Johann Strauss known as ‘The Waltz King’ has enchanted audiences around the globe with its whirls and twirls, billowing gowns and graceful elegance since the late 1800s.

The gala event will introduce some of Strauss’s most famous works such as Blue Danube Waltz, Voices of Spring Waltz along with comical melodies – Pizzicato polka, Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka and Radetzky March.

Singers Vo Thuy Ngoc Tuyen, Pham Khanh Ngoc, Pham Duyen Huyen and Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen will perform at the concert.

Subscription Concert Vol.77 to enthrall Hanoi audiences

Subscription Concert Vol.77 is set to get underway on January 15-16 at the Hanoi Opera House on No. 1 Trang Tien street.

The event has drawn the participation of foreign artists including conductor Olivier Ochanine, soprano Rachelle Gerodias and tenor Byeongin Park and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra.

The performance will last in 1 hour 30 minutes including a 15 minutes break.

Ticket prices range from VND200,000, VND350,000 and VND500,000 and free delivery is provided.

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