The Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra will hold “With strings attached” concert to mark the 60th anniversary of the HCMC Conservatory of Music at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Viola artist Pham Vu Thien Bao.

They will play popular pieces for string orchestra under the baton of conductor Adrian Tan, including Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances, Grieg’s Holberg Suite and the Viola Concerto by Henri Casadesus famously attributed to J.C. Bach and featuring viola soloist Pham Vu Thien Bao.

The concert’s highlight is the Double Concerto for two string orchestras, piano and timpani composed by Bohuslav Martinu. The orchestra will also present Peter Heinrich’s entertaining Variations on “Happy Birthday” to celebrate the HCMC Conservatory of Music’s 60th anniversary.

Viola artist Pham Vu Thien Bao, born 1983, began studying violin in Dong Nai, and then moved to the HCMC Conservatory of Music. In July 2003, he earned a Master’s degree in Viola Performance with highest distinction and then received “DAI” (Diploma Artists Interpret – the equivalent level of the Doctor degree in Music Performance in France) at the Paris National Conservatory of Music.

He has performed at many music festivals in France, Spain, Italy and Austria, and won awards from Val d’Isère Académie, Meyer Arts Association and Krigelstel Arts Association.

In November 2015, Bao came back to Vietnam with his own musical projects to contribute to developing classical music in Vietnam.

Tickets are respectively priced at VND200,000 and VND250,000 for standard and VIP categories.

For further information, contact the hotline on 0903 034 112.

The event will take place at the Concert Hall of the HCMC Conservatory of Music at 112 Nguyen Du Street in HCMC’s District 1.