VietNamNet Bridge – Local audiences can catch a glimpse of orchestral artists at an exhibition featuring photographs of conductors taken by photographer Nguyen Dinh Toan.

Graceful: A photograph featuring artist Dang Chau Anh. The exhibition features more than 50 photographs of conductors taken by photographer Nguyen Dinh Toan. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

The exhibition, titled 27 & 45, not only reveals new angles on conductors but also tells the story of the photographer, who has more than 20 years’ experience capturing these moments.

“I admire those who play classical music in Viet Nam very much,” Nguyen Dinh Toan said. “Taking portraits of orchestra conductors is itself a way to learn patience and courtesy.”

“I like the graceful manner of conductors, even though I may not have a good ear for music. This may be an advantage because if I love music and am too engaged in listening to it, then it would be hard to concentrate and capture the subtle facial expressions of the artists,” Toan said.

Leading figure: With a vast collection of photographs of artists, Nguyen Dinh Toan is known as the "governor of the bank of arts and music photographs. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

Initially, the photographer planned to feature 45 photographs of 27 Vietnamese and international conductors who performed in Viet Nam from the late 1980s. The subjects include Yoshikazu Fukumura, Do Dung, Graham Sutcliffe and Le Phi Phi, as well as Trong Bang, Doan Nguyen and Do Hong Quan.

However, in the last days before the exhibition was to open, Toan discovered more photographs, increasing the number in the show to 51, and the number of conductors to 30.  His oldest photograph was taken in 1996 and the most recent was shot on September 2 this year.

With a vast collection of photographs of artists, Toan is called the "governor of the bank of arts and music photographs".

Toan held his first photo exhibition in 2013, which featured photos of late composer Van Cao, considered one of the most salient figures of modern Vietnamese music. His work includes Tien Quan Ca (Viet Nam’s National Anthem), Lang Toi (My Village), Mua Xuan Dau Tien (First Spring) and Ngay Mua (Harvest). 

The exhibition, organised by Xua & Nay (Past and Present) magazine and Heritage Club, runs until Saturday on 1C Tong Dan Street, Ha Noi. 

VNS