HCM CITY — The Saigon Orchestra and dozens of veteran and young artists will participate in a contemporary music programme launched this week to serve tourists in HCM City.      

The programme, The Rainbow-Cầu Vồng, will be staged once a month at the city’s Opera House. It will feature Vietnamese and foreign music and songs, as well as traditional instruments. 

The performance will be accompanied by The Saigon Orchestra, a new orchestra of 45 members who graduated from music schools and institutes at home and abroad.  

The first show will feature People’s Artist Trần Hiếu, young singers Nhật Hạ, Nathan Lee and Đồng Lan, as well as dancers. With previous operatic experience under their belts, the singers will display a wide range of passionate sounds.  

They will perform before an expected audience of 500.  

“Revolutionary music and dances created by famous composers and choreographers will be featured,” said Lê Thanh Hải, the show’s stage director. 

Hải said that the orchestra has worked more than five months to combine Vietnamese and Western instruments in music.

“Through our art, we hope to introduce Vietnamese music and instrument to foreign visitors,” he added.   

Pianist Lê Nhật Quang, a member of the programme’s organising board, said: “We also want to encourage young people, particularly students, to join our programme to learn more about classical music.”

To attract youth, tickets for the first show are being offered for free at the theatre’s box office.

The concert will begin at 8pm on February 24 at the Opera House, 7 Lam Sơn Square, District 1.

Tickets for the second show are VNĐ100,000 (US$9) to VNĐ250,000 ($11). They can be purchased at the theatre from March 8. — VNS