COMMEMORATING SƠN - Famous Vietnamese singer Hồng Nhung will host “Bống Là Ai” (Who Bống Is) concert at the Hà Nội Opera House on March 11 and 12 to commemorate late songwriter Trịnh Công Sơn. — Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese singer Hồng Nhung and international artists will perform in a concert to commemorate late songwriter Trịnh Công Sơn at the Opera House in Hà Nội on March 11 and 12.

Nhung, known by the nickname Bống, will sing 20 Sơn’s famous songs in a new style of blues and jazz at the “Bống Là Ai” (Who Bống Is) concert to mark his 84th birthday (February 28) and 22nd death anniversary (April 1).

She will also perform three of her own songs Ngày Nắng Lên Chờ (Sunshine Day), Simple Beauty, and My Dream, which will be featured in her upcoming music video Simple Beauty – Vẻ Đẹp Giản Đơn.

The singer will invite famous international and Vietnamese musicians to join with her in the concert, such as French multi-instrumentalist Jean-Sébastien Simonoviez and singer Clara Simonoviez, French-Vietnamese guitarist Nguyên Lê, and Vietnamese saxophonist Quyền Thiện Đắc.

Cellist Michal Lech from Poland, bassist Sylvain Gagnon from France, and jazz musician Pong Nakornchai from Thailand will be featured as well.

Nhung said: “Bống Là Ai” will be a special concert that has never been organised before. It will be an installation art work of music and sound and visual effects. A monochrome stage set up with only light and darkness will make the show unique.”

INTERNATIONAL TALENT - Singer Clara Simonoviez from France will perform Sơn’s songs in French at the concert. Photo courtesy of Multimedia JSC

In addition, the singer will release her vinyl album Bống Là Ai, comprising eight of Sơn’s songs, at the concert.

The production will highlight Bống Bồng Ơi (Dear Bống Bồng) and Như Cánh Vạc Bay (Wings of the Flying Crane) sung in both Vietnamese and French by Nhung and French singer Simonoviez.

The album was recorded at the La Buissonne studio in France and mastered by American recording and mastering engineer Mark Levinson.

Nhung said, “musician Trịnh Công Sơn is a great teacher in my life. His music has been and always will be a great influence on my spiritual life.”

Musician Sơn was born in Huế in 1939. He became popular in 1957. His lasting legacy includes albums of romantic love songs, such as Diễm Xưa (Diễm, My Cherished Old Flame) and Ru Tình (Lullaby to Love), released in the 1960s and 70s.  

He went on to become southern Việt Nam’s most famous songwriter of anti-war music collections, including Ca Khúc Da Vàng (Yellow Skin Song), Kinh Việt Nam (Vietnamese Prayer) and Ta Phải Thấy Mặt Trời (We Must See The Sunlight).

Sơn died in HCM City in 2001 after a prolonged illness.

An exhibition showcasing black-and-white photos portraying the musician Sơn and singer Nhung will be held at the German House in District 1 in HCM City on March 15.

The event is organised by famous photographer Dương Minh Long to commemorate Sơn and celebrate Nhung’s birthday (March 15). — VNS