VietNamNet Bridge – “I hope that together with the orchestra, we will bring to the audience the strength to struggle, the will to overcome difficulties in life, the humanity and generosity that Beethoven conveyed through his music,” pianist Luu Hong Quang told VietNamNet.

Florentine orchestra to perform in capital

Pianist Luu Hong Quang.

 

At the age of 20, pianist Luu Hong Quang has won many international piano prizes. He will participate in the only show of the 2010 Toyota Concert with the Concerto No. 3 by L.V. Beethoven.

The concert will take place at the Hanoi Opera House in the evening of October 27. The Italian Orchestra Citta di Firenze will perform under the baton of conductor Lorenzo Castriota Skanderbeg. The concert will also feature Italian tenor, Leonardo Melani.

VietNamNet talked with Luu Hong Quang before the concert.

VietNamNet: In the first rehearsal with the Italian orchestra, after you finished the Concerto No. 3, Italian instrumentalists smiled to show their appreciation of your performance. Are you happy with it?

Luu Hong Quang: Perhaps the Italian colleagues were being very polite. But Italians have a very good sense of music and a good ear. They can listen to me and “talk” with me by music. Therefore, we understand each other more quickly.

VietNamNet: How about conductor Lozenro Skanderbeg? What do you think about him?

Quang: He is a talented conductor. There isn’t a big difference between how he and I feel a musical piece. But certainly, we still have different music tastes. For example, he wanted me to play some sections more gently, more romanticly, while I wanted to play them in a stronger manner. I will have to make some changes.

Some conductors only make adjustments after orchestras play the entire piece but conductor Skanderbeg stopped to make adjustments immediately after each part.

VietNamNet: Why did you choose Beethoven’s Concerto No. 3 for a concert with an Italian orchestra?

Quang: I made a list of music works that I can play and sent it to the conductor. It was him whoselected the Concerto No. 3. I hope that together with the orchestra, we will bring to the audience the strength to struggle, the will to overcome difficulties in life, the humanity and generosity that Beethoven conveyed through his music.

VietNamNet: It seems that this concerto will be the highlight of the 2010 Toyota Concert because it will account for 35 minutes while other works are only around ten minutes each?

Quang: I don’t know the conductor’s arrangement but for true instrumentalists and music lovers, the length is not the decisive factor, but the works themselves when they are played.

VietNamNet: You have recently appeared and performed in Vietnam very often. Do you plan to stay in / move to Vietnam?

Quang: Vietnam today is much different from  what it was liketen years ago. In the past, artists didn’t have many opportunities to become famous/recognised. Today, with the Internet, people can get updated information about everything, including classical music.

Another thing is that Vietnam today is still at the dawn of the development of its classical music appreciation.  The development of classical music in Vietnam needs further stimuli. I’m part of them. Even though I study and perform overseas, my thoughts always go towards Vietnam and I consider my contribution to develop classical music in Vietnam as my mission.

Van Sam