Grand Prix winner at the First Viet Nam International Music Competition for Violin and Chamber Music Ruslan Turuntayev will perform at From Czech to France Concert on August 16. — Photo VNCMF

On Thursday, East to West – A Musical Journey will feature pieces by French and Vietnamese composers.

Darius Milhaud’s String Quarter No1 will open the concert.

The concert will also introduce the latest music works by Vu Viet Anh, Nguyen Minh Nhat and Nguyen Manh Duy Linh.

Anh’s Skyline is an artist’s view about Sai Gon with a simple life in the chaotic city. Nhat composes Flashbacks to celebrate American musician Steven Gerber, with ca trù (ceremonial singing) featuring.

A Gentle Wind is one of the most outstanding works by Linh. In the second part, the audience will have chance to listen to pieces by American Duke Ellington for the first time.

They are I’m Beginning To See The Light, Sophisticated Lady and Take A Train.

The concert will also see international and Vietnamese artists including French Kim Mai Nguyen, Russian Petr Fedotov, American Avery Waite and Vietnamese Nguyen Thien Minh.

The second concert entitled From Czech to France will feature pieces by popular musicians Charles Gounod, Antonin Dvorak, Theodore Dubois and Zdenek Fibich.

Gounod’s Funeral March of A Marionette and Fibich’s Quintet for Violin, Clarinet, Viola, Cello and Piano will be performed in Vietnam for the first time.

Artists at the concert will include Kazakhastani violinist Ruslan Turuntayev, Grand Prix winner at the First Viet Nam International Music Competition for Violin and Chamber Music which closed in Hanoi in August 11.

The VNCMF was found in 2015 with art directors American-Vietnamese Chuong Vu and Bui Cong Duy to bring international artists as well as accomplished Vietnamese musicians who live abroad to Vietnam to collaborate with excellent Vietnamese artists.

Through meaningful cultural exchange activities, VNCMF aims to bring classical music closer the public.

VNCMF this year is held from August 2 to 22 including The First Viet Nam International Music Competition for Violin and Chamber Music and performances in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ha Long and HCM City.

VNS