Music has always been an important vehicle in story-telling. Through-out the development of music over the ages, programmatic music has always found its place in the repertoire. HBSO’s October 9th concert will feature programmatic works from Vietnamese and Norwegian composers.

The first half of the program will feature 2 stories from Norway, Johan Svendsen’s “Norwegian Artists’ Carnival” and Johan Halvorsen’s “Entry March of the Boyars”.

 The late 19th century and early 20th century Norwegian composers had been instrumental to the development of Norwegian classical music. 

Their stories will paint a picture of Northern Europe of the previous century and the life a the people more than century ago.

The first half will also feature works by Vietnamese composers Nguyen Manh Duy Linh and Vu Viet Anh. 

Their works, respectively, “A Gentle Wind” and “Skyline” are a look at Saigon through the eyes of an artist, touching on the simplicity of life among the busy and bustling life of a city. 

These HBSO commissions have appeared in programs featuring new Vietnamese music, allowing Vietnamese artists to experiment and express themselves through the classical performing arts.

The second half of the program will feature Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt” Suites.

Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s career was extremely instrumental in establishing the identity of Norway music on the international stage. 

His expert use of Norwegian folk music in his works probably was among the reasons why he was asked to write incidental music for Henrik Ibsen’s play “Peer Gynt”, which is based on Norwegian fairy tale. 

The play was a huge success, acclaimed by critics and audience. However, Grieg was not entirely happy about the result; creative reasons led him to make changes to the music that did not turn out to be exactly as he wanted, and the long process working on the music had created a mild sense of disappointment in Grieg.

In the following years, Grieg extracted 8 themes from the original 26 movements and created 2 four-movement suites for orchestra. 

The Peer Gynt suites instantly became a hit and has remained in international orchestral standard repertoire since. A few of these themes have been used widely and became very familiar.

Long-time collaborator to HBSO Maestro Magnus Loddgard will lead the HBSO Symphony Orchestra. 

The concert will also feature cellist Mer. A. Nguyen Tan Anh and soprano Cho Hae Ryong. Maestro Loddgard was last seen in Ho Chi Minh City leading HBSO’s critically and publicly acclaimed production of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute.

Program

Conductor: Magnus Loddgard

Soprano: Cho Hae Ryong

Performing: HBSO Symphony Orchestra

PART I:

Johan Svendsen – Norwegian Artists’ Carnival, Op. 14

Nguyen Manh Duy Linh – Làn gió nhẹ bay (A Gentle Wind)

Vu Viet Anh – Chân trời (Skyline)

Johan Halvorsen – Entry March of the Boyars

PART II: Edvard Grieg Excerpts from Peer Gynt

Abduction and Ingrid’s Lament

In the hall of the mountain king

Åse’s death

Morning Mood

Anitra’s dance

Solveig’s song (with soprano)

Return of Peer Gynt

Solveig’s cradle song (with soprano and ossia choir: 8 singers)

Tickets

Ticket price: 550,000 – 400,000 – 350,000 – 200,000 – 80,000 VND (for students only)

Booking and delivery: 08 38237419, Ms. Hương 0989874517, Ms.Huong Ly: 0908057972

At HCMC Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square

Online Booking: www.ticketbox.vn

Time: October 9th, 8 pm

Venue: HCMC Opera House, No. 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC