More than 300 musicians and artists from around the world has gathered at the third Asia-Europe New Music Festival 2018 that opened at the Hanoi Opera House on November 24.

The third Asia-Europe New Music Festival has attracted over 300 musicians and artists from around the world (Photo: hoinhacsi.vn)

At the opening ceremony, poet Huu Thinh, Chairman of the Alliance of Arts and Literature Associations of Vietnam, said following the previous events in 2014 and 2016, the third festival, themed “Sound Bridge”, continues to be the rendezvous for the world’s leading composers and artists to introduce artistic values and cultural identities of their countries, thereby helping to enhance the friendship and cultural cooperation between Asian and European nations.

Chairman of the Vietnamese Musicians’ Associations Do Hong Quan said this year’s festival is also a chance for composers and artists to introduce new compositions of symphony, chamber music, choral music and folk-inspired music. They can also gain an insight into the development of Vietnamese music through different activities.

Following the opening ceremony, the audience enjoyed a concert under the baton of conductors Honna Tetsuji from Japan and Zoe Zeniodi from Greece. Eleven works created by Asian and European musicians were performed by the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra.

The festival will feature several concerts, the introduction of traditional musical instruments and rituals of Vietnam, and visits to some destinations in Hanoi and Ninh Binh province.

The event will last through November 28.-VNA