Artists from the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra check a performance site in central Việt Nam. The JPO will hold free performances in Đà Nẵng, Huế and Hội An on September 5-9. Photo courtesy of Tomo Usuda

ĐÀ NẴNG – The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) Five will play free community concerts in three beautiful cities of Đà Nẵng, Huế and Hội An during a central Việt Nam tour on September 5-9, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Japan.

The JPO will perform at the secondary school of Trần Đại Nghĩa in Đà Nẵng at 9am on September 6 for the new academy year before performing at the Đà Nẵng Oncology Hospital for cancer patients from 2.30pm.

The group will play a free show at the Duyệt Thị Đường Royal Theatre in Huế City on September 7.

During a two-day performance in the ancient town of Hội An, the JPO will begin the first day at the main hall of Central Park from 7.30pm on September 8.

On the morning of September 9, the JPO will offer a performance at the Ứ Cafe – a rendezvous of Japanese expats owned by Reiko Usuda -- at 120 Công Chúa Huyền Trân Street on the Hoài River bank at 9.30am.

Earlier, the group will play at Đà Nẵng Hilton Opera on the night of September 5.

JPO was established in 1956 and is considered one of the five leading orchestras in Japan. They are also known for their unique community-based approaches and for organising creative programmes with children and hospital patients.

In 2018, the JPO's string quartet visited Đà Nẵng and Hội An for concerts, including playing for the patients at Đà Nẵng Oncology Hospital, and children's creative programme at Ứ Café.

Members of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra arrive at Đà Nẵng International Airport for a central Việt Nam tour on September 5-9. Photo courtesy of Tomo Usuda

JPO said there are amazing individuals who promote this event; they have dedicated their careers personally and taken advantage of the intertwined cultures of Việt Nam and Japan, including Honna Tetsuji, Principal Conductor of Việt Nam National Symphony Orchestra; Ando Saeko, a lacquer painting artist and Nakatani Akari, Youtuber and Actress in ‘Em và Trịnh’.

It’s the second time of the year that Japanese conductor Tetsuji Honna will join the performance in Đà Nẵng as he leads the Việt Nam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) to perform in Đà Nẵng on August 10 - the VNSO Holiday Concert 2023 - one of a series of activities being held in Việt Nam by the Japanese embassy in 2023. — VNS