Father-son duo to regale piano fans

Master pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy and his son Vovka Ashkenazy will play at a concert tonight at the Ha Noi Opera House.

The repertoire for the duo will include Schubert's Divertissement a la hongroise, Johannes Brahms's The Variations on a Theme, and Igor Stravinsky's The Rites of Spring.

Climax of the night will be Night on the Bare Mountain. Music lovers can enjoy pieces transcribed by Vovka, according to Katherine Chu, the concert artistic advisor.

Born in Gorky, Ashkenazy senior began playing the piano at the age of six. He inherited his musical gift from both sides of his family. His father was a pianist and his mother was the daughter of a chorus master in the Russian Orthodox church.

He is one of the few artists to have combined a successful career as a pianist and conductor. He graduated from the Moscow Conservatory and won several prizes, including first prize, in the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels in 1956, and joint first prize with John Ogdon in the 1962 International Tchaikovsky Competition.

He has built an extraordinary career, not only as a renowned and revered pianist, but as an artist whose life continues to offer inspiration to music-lovers across the world.

In January, Ashkenazy embarked upon a European tour with the British Philharmonia Orchestra.

Ashkenazy keeps his passion for the piano, but these days mostly in the recording studio. His record Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues won a Grammy in 1999.

Last year, a box-set consisting of 50 CDs, Ashkenazy: 50 Years was released to celebrate his long-standing relationship with Decca Classics.

This year, Decca will also release a milestone collection of his vast catalogue of Rachmaninov's piano music, which will also include all of his symphonic recordings as a conductor.

A programme of music for two pianos by Debussy and Ravel, recorded with his son Vovka Ashkenazy, was released in 2009.

Like his father, Vovka began piano lessons at the age of six. He studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

He has participated in many international music festival and worked with nearly all the major British orchestras and others in the world.

Vovka has also spent time in recording and teaching. He has given master classes in many countries, the most recent being at the Beijing International Piano Festival last year.

Through performances, the pianist has contributed to charitable causes including Action for Children and Cystic Fibrosis Trust in Britain, and the Bridges Peace Foundation in Cambodia and the Philippines.

The 18th Hennessy Concert is held by Hennessy in collaboration with the Viet Nam Performing Arts Centre.

"The Hennessy Concert Series has been a rare chance for local music lovers to enjoy masterpieces as well as known artists," said composer Dang Huu Phuc.

"Vladimir Ashkenazy is my idol in the 1970s. I like very much his disc Chopin. It's amazing," Phuc said.

Phuc, a veteran composer, will present his music piece for piano duo to the artist. 

Activities to mark 60 years of Hanoi liberation

A wide range of cultural, sports and tourism activities will be held in Hanoi from now until October 10 to celebrate the 60 th anniversary of the capital’s Liberation Day.

Following the Dien Bien Phu victory, Hanoi was freed from the French occupation on October 10, 1954.

The highlight on this occasion will be a fireworks display while outstanding Hanoi citizens will be honoured on the day.

A scientific symposium and an exhibition on the city’s socio-economic and cultural achievements after six decades of development will also be organised.

Other events will include a cycling race around Hoan Kiem Lake, a dragon dance performance and a traditional trade village tourism festival.

In the near future, Hanoi also plans to hold activities to celebrate the 60 th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory.

Vietnam has nine more national relics

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recognised nine historical and archeological vestiges and landscapes as national relics.

They include Do Can Temple in Pho Yen district, northern Thai Nguyen province; Tham Khuong Cave archeological relic in Tuan Giao district and Xa Nhe Cave in Tua Chua district, northern Dien Bien province; Dan Pioong Cave in Vi Xuyen district, northern Ha Giang province; and Doi Cave in Ha Lang district, northern Cao Bang province.

Also on the list are the base of the Logistic Department of the South Vietnam Liberation Army in Loc Ninh district, southern Binh Phuoc province; and the tomb of poet Phan Huy Chu in Hanoi ’s Ba Vi district.

The northern province of Nam Dinh has two recognised relics namely An Trach Temple in Hai Hai district and Tuan Luc Temple in Truc Ninh district.

Vietnam now has more than 3,000 recognised national relics.-

Popular 1980s drama returns

The wildly popular television drama Trong Nha Ngoai Pho (Indoor and Outdoor), is being broadcast on HTV9, after an 11-year hiatus.

The 2014 version of the drama features a series of short dramas about practical and intimate matters in today's life of the Vietnamese.

Celebrated artist Hong Van and artist Anh Vu are the directors of the shows.

The show depicts stories about Hong Van, who plays a housewife, that revolve around cosmetic surgery, bringing up children, and family relationships. Anh Vu, in the role of the gossiper, tittle-tattles about his neighbours.

The 30-minute drama is televised every Saturday at 9.30pm.

First presented in the 1980s, the programme, as the "spiritual meal" for millions of TV viewers, especially in the South, aired hundreds of dramas during its 15-year lifespan.

HCM City holds evening of western music

South Korean guest artist Ju Sun-young and musicians from the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera will perform western music at the Opera House in HCM City tonight.

At the Garden of Music, the first half of the evening will feature chamber music including William Bolcom's The Garden of Eden and Scott Joplin's The Entertainer, both American ragtime music from different eras.

The influence of jazz on French music will be featured in Darius Milhaud's Scaramouche, which will use the clarinet instead of the saxophone used in the original.

The second half of the evening will feature operatic arias including Mozart's operas, excerpts from Romantic operas of Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, and Donizetti, and pieces by Gounod and Lehar.

Music awards to reward consistency

The nominees for the Devotion Music Awards were announced by The Thao & Van Hoa (Sport & Culture) daily yesterday.

This year, the awards will see the introduction of another category, raising the total number of awards to seven. Categories include: best music productions, best artist of 2013, best album, best show and song of the year. There will also be awards for the best series of music performances.

Three television series have made the newly added series of music performances category, which has five nominees in total.

Young singers emerging from the television music shows will also compete for the category of best New Artist including favourites Duc Hung, Dinh Huong, Truc Nhan and Cat Tuong.

Song of the Year nominees include chart-topping songs that have been popular on music websites. The song Bac Lam Vuon va Con Chim Sau (Gardener and a Bird) is a favourite this year with it's composer Duc Hung and singer Truc Nhan headlining the New Artist category.

There are six nominees for the Album of the Year, with albums Yem Dao Xuong Pho (Village Damsel Walking down the Street) and Doc Dao (Unique Path) headlining the category.

The album Yem Dao Xuong Pho by singer Tan Nhan is a popular favourite with combinations of jazz and cheo (traditional opera).

"This album shows Tan Nhan's devotion to music. Mixing jazz with cheo art is creative and I'm really interested in this nomination," said journalist Ngo Ba Luc, from VnMedia.vn.

The album also marks the first time contemporary-folk music has been nominated for the award. "I made the album to dignify folk music values and I want young music listeners to love traditional Vietnamese music," said singer Tan Nhan.

The album Doc Dao is a production by Tung Duong and Vietnamese-French musician Nguyen Le. The album is an ode to jazz and has been well received by music critics.

Both the artists nominated in the categories of Composer of the Year and Singer of the Year, with the album's launch show also nominated for Show of the Year .

As is the case every year, Composer of the Year and Singer of the Year will garner close attention from the public and music makers. Five nominees in the Composer of the Year category include Pham Hai Au, Do Bao, Bao Lan, Nguyen Le and Quoc Trung.

Composer Do Bao approaches the contest having won the title in 2009. Quoc Trung has missed out on the award on numerous occasions, despite being nominated.

"Being nominated is great for me because my efforts are being recognised. I hope I can win the series of music performance category with my work in Rock Storm," said Quoc Trung.

Nguyen Dinh Thanh Tam is the newest contender in the race for Singer of the Year. He has been compared to Tung Duong who is also nominated this year and has claimed the title five times.

"Since it was established in 2004, the Devotion Music Awards has honoured popular singers and musicians who have proved their talent and made contributions to the music industry," said Truong Le Kim Hoa, the daily's editior-in-chief.

This year, around 100 journalists from Ha Noi and HCM City will be invited to vote for their favourite shows, albums and artists. The awards ceremony will be held on April 22 at Ha Noi Opera House with a live broadcast scheduled on Viet Nam Television's channel 2.

A glimpse of Vietnam through photo exhibition

“Returning from a fishing trip” by Vuong Xuan Hoa in Nam Dinh in 2013.

A photo exhibition themed “The colour of life” is currently ongoing at the Hanoi University of Culture, vividly capturing moments from everyday life in the northern and central regions of the country.

A total of 58 photos were collected by the university’s staff during fact-finding tours of northern mountainous provinces of Ha Giang, Dien Bien and Lai Chau and central and Central Highland provinces over the past three years.

The exhibition will run until March 26.

Traditional royal ritual held in ancient capital Hue

The central province of Thua Thien–Hue on March 18 organized the Le Te Xa Tac (Worshiping the Genies of Earth and Crop), one of the most important rituals performed by kings of successive feudal dynasties to pray for peace and a good harvest.

A typical practice of an agricultural culture of the nation, it was held in the Xa Tac Worship Platform, which was built in 1806 under the reign of King Gia Long, the founder of the Nguyen dynasty, the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam.

According to Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Hue Relics Conservation Centre, the ritual takes place in spring every year, as part of efforts to revive ancient royal performances and music, while promoting intangible cultural values in modern life.

The event attracted a large crowd of locals and tourists.

Vietnamese artists attend Germany Music Festival

A significant number of Vietnamese actors, actresses and singers will participate in a music festival for overseas Vietnamese (OV) in Berlin, Germany, on April 24.

In addition to domestic artists, like people’s artist Thanh Hoa, meritorious artist Hong Van, singers Noo Phuoc Thinh, Thanh Duy, and Minh Luan and famous comedian Anh Vu, overseas Vietnamese artists like singers Bang Kieu and Minh Tuyet will also perform at the event.

The final round of a singing contest for OVs in Europe, which is part of activities to mark the 10th anniversary of Dong Xuan Commercial Centre and the 5th anniversary of Huong Viet Magazine, will also be held during the festival.

Nguyen Van Hien, General Director of the Dong Xuan Commercial Centre, said the program aims to honour businesses and customers who have been associated with the centre over the years.

The organising board revealed that more than 30 contestants in Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland have registered to compete in the singing contest.

An entrance ticket for the show will be EUR25.

Vinh Linh trench – Vinh Moc tunnels seek national relic recognition

The central province of Quang Tri has been commissioned to compile a dossier on the Vinh Linh trench - Vinh Moc tunnels complex in Vinh Thach commune, Vinh Linh district, for recognition as a National Special Relic.

In 1965, Vinh Moc village was the first place bombed by the American forces. In response, the residents dug tunnels and moved the village underground to a depth of 30 metres.

The three-level tunnels with a total length of nearly two kilometres was finished in 1966 and used until early 1972.

During the seven years (1965 – 1972), the American troops dropped more than 9,000 tons of bombs in the area but no villagers were killed . Around 60 families lived and 17 children were born inside the tunnels.

The Vinh Moc tunnels complex was recognised as a National Relic in 1976 and was listed as one of the country’s particularly important sites. It was opened to public in 1995 and has attracted a large number of visitors.