HÀ NỘI — Once every year, beautiful tunes praising heroic Việt Nam have been played during the national concert Điều Còn Mãi (Remaining with Time).

The annual event will take place at 2pm in Hà Nội Opera House on September 2 – the moment when President Hồ Chí Minh read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Việt Nam 78 years ago (2/9/1945-2/9/2023). Initiated in 2009 by the e-newspaper Vietnamnet, alongside the foremost purpose of celebrating Independence Day, the event is also to honour the diversity of Vietnamese music.

According to Vietnamnet Editor-in-Chief Nguyễn Văn Bá, this year’s concert will feature a special repertoire featuring “new and fresh changes that can arouse patriotism and national pride of every audience”.

Conductor Đồng Quang Vinh (left) and singer Đỗ Tố Hoa perform at a press conference about the concert in Hà Nội last week. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

Like the previous season, the concert will be opened with the national anthem Tiến Quân Ca (Marching Song) by celebrated composer Văn Cao. The song will be presented by the Việt Nam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) under the baton of the talented conductor Đồng Quang Vinh.

Aiming to honour the great composer on his 100th birthday (15/11/1923 – 15/11/2023), the concert will include another of his famous songs Đàn Chim Việt (Vietnamese Birds).

“The song will have a new music arrangement and orchestration, and will be performed by semi-classical singer Phạm Thu Hà,” said the concert’s Music Director, composer Trần Mạnh Hùng, who has selected, arranged and orchestrated all the tunes, creating the unity throughout the concert.

Hùng also said that the concert will take symphony as the major material to honour national values.

A list of all-time-favourite songs such as Bóng Cây Kơnia (Under the Shadow of Kơnia Tree) by Phan Huỳnh Điểu, Trăng Sáng Đôi Miền (Moon Shines Two Regions) by An Chung, Áo Mùa Đông (Winter Jacket) by Đỗ Nhuận, Đất Nước Lời Ru (The Nation’s Lullaby) by Văn Thành Nho, Giai Điệu Tổ Quốc (The National Melody) by Trần Tiến, Tổ Quốc Yêu Thương (The Beloved Nation) by Hồ Bắc, and Lên Ngàn (Go up to the Jungle) by Hoàng Việt, will be presented during the concert.

In addition, favourite tunes of young people – My Kool Việt Nam by Thanh Bùi, and Những Trái Tim Việt Nam (Vietnamese Hearts) by Phương Uyên – also be included in the concert repertoire. The songs will be performed by the all-men music band Oplus.

Performance by young saxophonist An Trần is expected to add more vivid colours to the concert. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

The VNSO will also present the overture Mùa Xuân Thế Kỷ (A Spring in A Century) by Hoàng Cương.

A line-up of famous artists of revolutionary music, including Đăng Dương, Tùng Dương, Đỗ Tố Hoa, Phạm Khánh Ngọc, and Đào Mác, will gather to be on the stage of the concert Điều Còn Mãi. Performance by young saxophonist An Trần – daughter of veteran saxophonist Trần Mạnh Tuấn – is expected to add more vivid colours to the concert.

The 39-year-old conductor Đồng Quang Vinh will take over the position of conductor Lê Phi Phi in all previous concert. Vinh said that within only two hours of the concert, it’s challenging to connect all the performance to create a completed story about Vietnamese culture and history as well as the love to the country, and the strength of national unity.

“However, I believe in the passion and effort of every individual that will bring the success for the national concert,” he said. — VNS