Musician Đặng Hữu Phúc will have his work ũ Điệu Chèo Và Lên Đồng (Dance of Chèo and Falling into Trance) premiered at A Night of Modern and Classical Music Concert, taking place at the Việt Nam National Academy of Music on November 12. Photo courtesy of the artist

HÀ NỘI  For the first time, musicians from Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra will perform works imbued with Vietnamese folk music – chèo (popular opera) and chầu văn (spiritual singing) – at a concert that will take place at the Việt Nam National Academy of Music on November 12.

A Night of Modern and Classical Music will be led by Polish conductor Wojciech Czepie. It will include a performance of musician Đặng Hữu Phúc’s work, Vũ Điệu Chèo Và Lên Đồng (Dance of Chèo and Falling into Trance), which utilises the folk melodies.

According to Phúc, the concert is the first time that chèo drum will be played by a soloist in an 80-person symphony orchestra.

“These are two quintessential art genres of Việt Nam's northern region," the musician said.

"The integration of chèo and chầu văn into a symphony orchestra is a great effort of the artists in preserving and promoting traditional arts to young audiences and international friends. I completed the work during the pandemic and it is until now will I have the opportunity to have it perform to the public."

In addition to Phúc’s work, the concert also features a solo performance of piano concerto No 23 by pianist Nguyễn Việt Trung and performance of Beethoven's 7th Symphony Restored Torch by musicians from Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra.

Prior to the Modern and Classical concert was the launch of the book entitled Hợp Xướng Acapella Thính Phòng Và Giao Hưởng (Works for Choir – A Capella Chamber Music and Symphony Orchestra), written by musician Phúc.

Starting to learn music at the age of 10, Phúc, 69, was professionally trained in both Piano Composition and Performance at the Việt Nam National Academy of Music and Paris Conservatory.

Some of his works written for piano, such as Suite and Sonate polyphonique, have been performed by world-acclaimed pianist Đặng Thái Sơn at concerts held both in Việt Nam and abroad. He has demonstrated many different styles in composition, from classical to avant-garde music.

In addition to writing for symphony-chamber music, he has also written hundreds of songs and romances, especially A Selection of 60 Romances and Songs for Vocal and Piano, an anthology written for vocals and including a complete piano part.

Some songs in the anthology have been widely popular such as Trăng Chiều (Afternoon Moon), Ru Con Mùa Đông (Winter Lullaby) and Tôi Vẫn Hát (I Still Sing).

Phúc also wrote music for many feature films and plays. At the 13th Vietnam Film Festival in December 2001, he won both the best music awards for the films Mùa Ổi (The Guava Season) and Nắng Chiều (Sunny Afternoon).

He also won the Jinjue Award for Best Music at the 8th Shanghai International Film Festival in June 2005, along with a number of other domestic awards.

The musician was honoured with the State Prize in Literature and Art in 2012. VNS