Vietnamese music night introduced in France

Thứ Ba, 06/02/2018, 10:56

PSNews – Young musician Hoang Thu Trang held the music performance “Cham – Toucher” to introduce French audience the Vietnamese music on February 3, at the Cosmopolis cultural center, in Nantes.

This is one of a series of art activities held in the framework of “AuxCoeurx du Vietnam” (To the Hearts of Vietnam) to celebrate the Vietnam Month in Nantes.

The event drew the collaboration of 80 non-professional artists who are Vietnamese students, Vietnamese residents of France and French people living in Nantes, Paris, Lorient as well as neighboring provinces and cities.

The concert “Cham – Toucher” brought the audience to Vietnam – the S-shaped country in the Southeast Asia with spectacular landscapes, rich culture and diverse food.

Each song in the concert included French subtitles and was accompanied by fine images, which gave the audience the opportunity to ‘touch’ and feel the quintessence of Vietnamese culture.

“I combine traditional Vietnamese music with modern melodies, accompanied by images and light in order to bring the best experience to audience. There have been many difficulties as most participants are non-professionals and many in the team do not speak Vietnamese fluently but must perform in Vietnamese. We have been practising for three months to mount an hour on stage. Music will make us overcome all the geographic and language barriers and bring us close together,” Trang said.

In this concert, Trang performed her latest song – Ha Noi Cua Em, Ha Noi Cua Anh (Your Hanoi, My Hanoi).

Cheerful, festive melodies depicting the traditional Tet of Vietnamese people with the signature items of peach blossom flower and banh chung (square sticky rice cake) were also featured.

Additionally, the concert introduced the audience to the unique features of Vietnamese music such as the flute or ca tru (ceremonial singing).

Nearly 80 non-professional artists prepared for the concert. They include Musique Rendez-Vous music band, comprised of Vietnamese students in France, and NEST VIET orchestra, whose 40 members are Vietnamese mothers and their children growing up in France.

Hoang Thu Trang, who started composing at the age of 12 and graduated from the Hanoi Conservatory of Music, is currently living in Nantes. She is the founder of the music band Music Rendez-Vous in France. Over the last few years, Trang has organized more than ten concerts with the band across France to introduce and promote Vietnamese music and culture.

Moreover, the event features more than 20 activities introducing Vietnam, its history, people and culture. It takes place from January 31 to February 18 in Nantes. An exhibition featuring the costumes of the 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam was held at the opening event on January 31.


By Linh Bui