Artists perform in Khát Vọng Đam San (Đam San’s Aspiration), a musical on the Ê Đê people written and composed by veteran composer Nguyễn Cường in 2021. (Photo courtesy of the producer)

HCM CITY— Composer Nguyễn Cường, known as Son of Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands), will hold a free concert in Đăk Lắk Province on May 1 to celebrate his 40-year career.

Called Đến Với Cao Nguyên (Coming to the Central Highlands), the concert will highlight the generous and liberal spirit of the Tây Nguyên region and its people with songs like: Còn Thương Nhau Thì Về Buôn Ma Thuột (Love for Buôn Ma Thuột); Đôi Mắt Pleiku (The Eyes of Pleiku); and H’Ling Em Ở Đâu (H’Ling, Where Are You). 

Popular hits performed by rock stars Silk Black and Y Moan, Anh Muốn Sống Bên Em Trọn Đời ( I Want to Live Within You Forever) and Ly Cà Phê Ban Mê (The Cup of Coffee in Ban Mê Thuột), will be part of the program. 

The concert will also feature Khát Vọng Đam San (Đam San’s Aspiration), a musical on Ê Đê ethnic people of Tây Nguyên written and composed by Cường in 2021. 

The musical is based on Trường Ca Đam San (The Great Epic of Đam San), a famous seven-chapter epic of the Ê Đê ethnic minority people in Tây Nguyên. It tells the story of a heroic chieftain named Đam San.

The epic was collected by French ethnologist Sabatier in Đắk Lắk and published in Ê Đê language and French in Paris in 1927.

In 2014, the epic was recognised as a national intangible culture heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Cường worked on the five-chapter musical Khát Vọng Đam San to help Ê Đê people preserve their culture and lifestyle. 

He said has spent a lot of time working with singers and dancers from traditional art troupes of Đắk Lắk to prepare for his concert. 

Composer Nguyễn Cường, known as the Son of Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands), will organise a free concert in Đăk Lắk on May 1 to commemorate his 40-year career. (Photo courtesy of the producer)

 “Our artists will sing and dance with their heart and soul,” said 78-year-old Cường. “I have invited young singers who come from minority groups of Tây Nguyên to join my concert. I hope their performance will win over fans.”

Cường’s concert, Đến Với Cao Nguyên, will begin 7.30pm at the Đắk Lắk Museum in Buôn Ma Thuột City, Đắk Lắk Province. — VNS