Classical singers host concert at Hanoi Opera House

Plaisir D’Amour will feature sopranos Hong Vy and Duyen Huyen, tenor Dang Duong and baritone Dao Mac. People’s Artist Quang Tho will be guest performer at the concert.

All of the vocalists will perform with an ensemble of 30 musicians led by conductor Le Ha My, a graduate of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory.

Composer and producer Tran Manh Hung, who has directed classical concerts and produced albums for many famous singers, is the music director for the event.

Music director Tran Manh Hung (middle) and four classical vocalists will perform at the Plaisir D’Amour concert at the HCM City Opera House on October 5.

“I chose a special song list for the concert,” said Hung, who is known for his folk suite The Flow, an arrangement of 21 famous folk songs from all parts of the country that denotes a journey from childhood – likened to a stream – to old age.

The first part of the programme will include famous operatic extracts, semi-classical songs and pop songs remixed in chamber music style.

“All of the songs will surprise audiences at the Opera House,” Hung said, adding that the second part would be Vietnamese folk songs.

“Popular folk songs from three regions of Vietnam will be recomposed for the vocalists and the chamber ensemble,” he said.

Hong Vy, who initiated the concert, said: “With passion and love for chamber music, we promise to bring a musical party to audiences in HCM City.”

Vy shot to fame after finishing runner-up in Sao Mai (Morning Star), a TV singing contest organised by VN Television in 2001.

The graduate of the HCM City Conservatory of Music was awarded Meritorious Artist in 2012 for her contribution to Việt Nam’s music scene.

In 2013, she and her colleague, singer Tuan Anh, hosted a chamber music concert called Amore Musica at the city’s conservatory and received a warm welcome from resident music fans.

Vy is a soloist with the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO).

Three other artists are graduates of the VN National Academy of Music (VNAM) and teach at music universities in the country.

They have performed with prestigious orchestras like the HBSO, VNAM Orchestra, VN National Symphony Orchestra, and Northeast German Philharmonic Orchestra.

Plaisir D’Amour will begin at 8pm at the Opera House at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1. Tickets are available at the box office.