Russian festival on its way

The Russian Cultural Days 2013 will be held from November 11-17 in Ha Noi, HCM City and Binh Duong Province by the culture ministries of Viet Nam and Russia.

Activities consist of art performances, photo exhibitions and Russian Film Days which will screen Russian contemporary feature movies such as My Dad is Baryshnikov, I'll be Around, My Boyfriend is an Angel and White Tiger.

As scheduled, a splendid art performance will open the event which takes place on November 12 at the Ha Noi Opera House.

The art performance will also be organised at HCM City's Municipal Theatre on November 15 and at the Binh Duong Cultural Centre the following day.

The event aims to strengthen the relationship between Viet Nam and Russian Federation in various fields like culture, art and tourism.

Contemporary sculpture gallery opens

A gallery dedicated only to the art of sculpture will open its doors tomorrow at 12 Quan Su Street. The gallery's opening will be marked with an exhibition entitled New Form 1 which showcases contemporary artworks by several famous Vietnamese sculptors such as Khong Do Tuyen, Le Lang Luong, Nguyen Huy Tinh, Nguyen Huu Thai, Pham Bao Son.

Conducted by curator and art researcher Nguyen Anh Tuan, the exhibition is part of an art project aiming to discover new creative sources, as well as to offer artists a professional working environment.

The New Form 1 will open to public until December 6.

Play takes participants back to the 1960s

A special performance that will transport audiences back into the 1960s will take place at Tadioto on Saturday.

Using a play written by S. Benamozig, different tools such as design, music, videos and theatre will be used to recreate the atmosphere of this period in history. The aim is to help the audience understand troubled moments in time without making judgements, while having fun, learning something and also having an enjoyable Saturday night.

The show will start at 8.30pm at Tadioto, Level 2, Building A, 9 Tran Thanh Tong Street. Tickets available at the entrance.

Music night features Japanese rockers

The Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Viet Nam has teamed up with roskpassion.vn to present a night of rock with Japanese and Vietnamese repertoires on November 16.

The event will transform the Van Ho Exhibition Centre at 2 Hoa Lu Street, into a rock venue with the Japanese version of The Beatles – the band Okamoto, who is returning to Viet Nam for a fourth time. Other significant repertoires will be performed by rock ‘n soul band The Ton-Up Motors and techno twins Ryukyudisko.

The event is free and tickets can be collected from the Japan Foundation, 27 Quang Trung Street, Tel: (04) 39997419 or at the roskpassion.vn office, 66 Lane 40, Ta Quang Buu Street.

Auction raises funds for flood victims

Buddies Charity Night, a music and auction event to raise money and support people in Central Viet Nam struggling to cope with flooding, will take place at the Maia Club in District 7 tomorrow.

Hard Rock Cafe offers new daily performer

Radio City, a music band from UK, will be the frequent performer at Hard Rock Cafe HCM City.

Performances by the UK band will start on November 16 at 9pm every night from Tuesday to Sunday.

The band has five members, including lead vocalist Elle Douglas, bass guitarist Alex Heath, guitarist and vocalist Jamie Watkins, drummer Ben Sturdy, and its leader Chris Tait, who takes the role of keyboards, guitar, and vocals.

The band will perform in different genres, including pop, R&B, funk, blues and reggae. It sets dance as their top priority.

VinGallery holds painting events

VinGallery will host a Canvas & Wine event on Saturday where participants can try painting a self-portrait.

VinSpace Student's Art Exhibition entitled Celebrating Talent on Saturday will celebrate the artistic talent of both adults and children, and raise money for charity with works by students up for grabs.

An art market will be held on the same day from 10am to 4pm, offering an opportunity to enjoy many artworks, meet artists and purchase paintings, drawings, limited edition prints, handmade jewellery, fashion and accessories, ceramics and sculpture, handmade homeware and gift items. The event will take place at VinSpace, 4-6 Le Van Mien Street, District 2.

Media art blends with cooking showcase

Saigon Outcast and Institute of Lower Learning will host an event unlike any other – Super Blop Culture Cook-off and Media Art party – which

combines the best of cutting edge media art performance and music with good food by some of the most interesting creative talents in HCM City.

Super Blop pits a diverse group of people – musicians, photographers, promoters and eco-activists – against each other in a battle of the kitchen utensils.

The grub will be judged by the hungry audience.

When the sun's down and the belly's full, there will be music from Yosi Horikawa, Jase Nguyen, Foniks, Space Panther, Time Keepr and Solid Machine, surrounded by 3-screens showcasing new visual experiments with live video and choreography by Crazy Monkey, Cao Hoang Long and Yen Apus.

The event will kick off on November 16 at Saigon Outcast, 188/1 Nguyen Van Huong Street, District 2.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/214130095423204/ for more informaion.

TV series honours reformed opera

The first part of a TV documentary series featuring traditional opera cai luong (reformed opera) will be completed this month.

The series, Mot Doi Nghiep To (Foremost Artistes of Cai Luong Theatre), the first of its kind, includes four parts featuring the history of traditional music, including songs and plays in different styles performed by veteran artists.

The producer, HCM City Television's Film Studio (TFS), worked with its partner, HCM City Theatre Association, to hire staff and invest in the project.

The film's first part highlights six pioneers, Nam Chau, Phung Ha, Nam Phi, Ba Van, Thanh Ton and Ut Tra On, who all have received the honour People's Artist from the Government.

"Though our artistes have passed away, their art is still alive among their students and fans," Nguyen Thanh Chung, one of the film's directors, said.

The film's second-part will feature Thanh Tong, a cai luong guru who has devoted his life to revive the art.

Tong began his professional career when he was 10, working for the Cau Quan Troupe in District 1, a leading cai luong troupe owned by Nguyen Van Thang, a great veteran of cai luong.

With his strong voice and performance skills, Tong quickly became a bright star on stage.

In the 1960s, Tong was at the peak of his artistry and fame. He performed in many plays such as Doi Co Luu (Miss Luu's Life) and To Anh Nguyet (Miss To Anh Nguyet), which are recognised as classic cai luong plays.

He was also involved in writing, trying to put his new ideas into quality scripts like Pham Cong Cuc Hoa and An Duong Vuong, both featuring Vietnamese characteristics.

Many of his cai luong plays have been staged many times by leading troupes at home and abroad.

Like many of his peers, Tong devoted his energies to the stage, finding new ways to lure audiences, particularly youth.

Tong has also worked hard to train younger colleagues. Many of his students, including Trinh Trinh, Tu Suong, Truong Son and his oldest daughter, Que Tran, have won top prizes at national competitions and festivals.

"Through our art, we wanted to preserve the country's spirit. We hope our children grow up within love and respect for the traditional arts," said the 77-year-old artist.

For his contributions for the theatre, Tong was honoured as People's Artist by the Government in 2007.

Alumni documentary marks Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties

The Vietnamese Graduates from Australia Club (VGAC) will host a gala for Vietnamese graduates of Australian universities and launch an Australian alumni documentary in Hanoi on 8 November.

Australian and Vietnamese government officials, university, and business representatives, and about 100 Vietnamese graduates of Australian universities will attend the event.

‘Gala 2013 – Australian Alumni Documentary Film Premier’ is one of the key events VGAC will host to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam.

It will be an opportunity for alumni to meet, network and share their memories of living and studying in Australia.

The documentary is the first film about the Australian alumni community in Vietnam.  The film tells the stories of 40 high-profile alumni and VGAC members who have made significant contributions to Vietnamese life in fields including education, culture, social development, business and science.

The film explores alumni’s experiences of studying and living in Australia and looks at what Australian education has helped them achieve and contribute to bilateral relations between the two countries.  Vietnamese students preparing or hoping to study in Australia will find the film particularly valuable.

VGAC has more than 5,000 members, making it Vietnam’s largest active alumni network.  With support and sponsorship from the Australian Government, particularly through Australian Education International and the Australian Trade Commission, it is able to give alumni across Vietnam valuable career support and networking opportunities.

Art performance to highlight ‘Nghia Tinh Truong Son’ charity program

A special art performance will be held at Ben Thanh Theater in Ho Chi Minh City on November 10 to highlight the charity program run by Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper--‘Nghia Tinh Truong Son’ (Sentimental attachment for Truong Son Road).

The gala night aims to pay tribute to sponsors who have donated outstanding contributions to the program during last four years, including Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam-Vietcombank, Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade-Vietinbank.

The organizers will also offer medals and certificates of merit to supporters, and hold exchanges between veteran soldiers and audiences during the event.

The gala event and music concert will present to listeners popular revolutionary songs performed by Meritorious Artist Thanh Thuy, Huynh Loi, Vy Hoa and the Military Zone 7 Art Troupe. The show is expected to give a deep knowledge of the sacrifices made by the armed forces for the sake of national defense and security.

According to Nguyen Tan Phong, SGGP Editor-in-Chief, the charity program aims to help war heroes, war invalids, martyrs’ families, youth volunteers and the poor ethnic people that live along the provinces on Truong Son Road. During the resistance war against US invaders, the provinces along Truong Son suffered heavy losses and lost many human lives.

The organizers of the ‘Nghia Tinh Truong Son’ charity program have collected around VND140 billion to build the Ho village historical site, 17 dispensaries and 1,351 houses in 44 cities and provinces throughout the country, besides inaugurating two Truong Son martyr commemorative temples  and offering more than 2,000 scholarships.

The gala ceremony will be broadcast live on VTV9, ANTV channels and 14 others across the country at 8pm.

HCM City collects more than VND100 billion for poor from concert

A charity concert titled ‘Join hands for the poor’ was held at the Ho Chi Minh City Television Theater on November 8.

The event called on sponsors to collect money for helping the disadvantaged people in the City.

According to Huynh Dang Linh, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Central Committee, the City has reduced a large number of poor households in last 13 years and has currently only 21,000 with 92,000 members.

The committee has also mobilized from benefactors more than VND100 billion for building houses, offering scholarships, handing health insurance cards, providing capital to the poor and helping them enjoy their Tet holidays.

The event was organized by the HCMC Television and the HCMC Fatherland Front Central Committee marking the ‘Rush Month for the Poor’ from October 17-November 18.

South Korean artists in town this weekend

South Korean pianist Joo Eun Young and cellist Bai Il Hwan will perform at ‘Korea-Vietnam’ at HCMC Conservatory of Music at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, entertaining music lovers many contemporary works of Korean and Vietnamese composers.

For the free performances they will share the stage with familiar faces such as drummer Mai Thanh Son, 16-string zither artist Hai Phuong, cellist Vo Dinh Luan, oboist Pham Khanh Toan, pianist Dieu Thao and violinist Tri Toan.

Saigonese audiences will have a chance to enjoy contemporary Korean pieces such as Friend by composer Choi Sangwha, The lotus flower in fog from Kang Julee, Love song by Yang Miji, YEOM Mihi’s Wanderer, Religious Inspiration by Jeong Yeonok, Shin Jooyoun’s Inner conflictsy and The beauty of time by Kim Hyeran.

Moreover, the night will also entertain audiences with Monology by Dinh Lang, Thoa noi nho mong by Hoang Cuong and Hat ru by Tran Thanh Ha.

Invitations are delivered at the conservatory, 112 Nguyen Du Street in downtown HCMC.

First ASEAN-UNESCO festival to spotlight cultural heritages

Ten ASEAN member countries will join India, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea to introduce their cultural heritages at the first UNESCO-ASEAN Heritage Festival in the central Highlands of Lam Dong from December 27-31.

According to organisers, each country will bring one tangible and one intangible piece of cultural heritage to the event, which is part of the Da Lat Culture and Tourism Week 2013.

The festival will also be a golden chance for Vietnamese localities to promote their UNESCO-recognised heritages to international friends.

During the event, an international workshop on UNESCO heritage network in Southeast Asia and an exhibition displaying woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty – the World Documentary Heritage will also be organised.

Classical concert charms Hanoi audience

Audiences in the capital city Hanoi enjoyed a veritable feast of the best classical music at the Toyota Classics 2013 under the baton of world-renowned Canadian conductor Olivieri Munroe at the Hanoi Opera House on November 5.

They reveled in the performance of delicate melodies of world classical works and symphonic masterpieces from Eastern European music to Piazzolla performed by the Czech Philharmonic Teplice and talented Vietnamese violinist Nguyen Huu Nguyen.

This is the 16 th of the annual Toyota Classics in Vietnam , which is the first destination of its Asia – Pacific tour from November 5 - 16.

After Hanoi , the concert will be held in Phnom Penh ( Cambodia ), Kuala Lumpur ( Malaysia ), and Bandar Seri Begawan ( Brunei ).

This year’s event was held by Toyota Motor Asia-Pacific and Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) in co-operation with the Vietnam Performing Arts Centre and the Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

The proceeds from the concert will go to the “Toyota Scholarship for Vietnamese Young Music Talent” programme, which aims to assist excellent students studying in five music training schools under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Toyota Classics has been organised annually from the mid-1990s with many tours to countries in the Asian Pacific region. By now, a total of 171 concerts have been held, attracting almost 214,000 audiences.-

Source: VOV/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri