HÀ NỘI — A concert titled Mexico and Vietnam: Notes of Friendship will be held at the Hanoi Opera House at 8pm on Friday (September 14) to celebrate the 208th anniversary of Mexico’s independence.

The event will feature the Sun Symphony Orchestra with director Olivier Ochanine and solo guitarists Mauricio Diaz and Nguyễn Thanh Hằng.

Mexico & Vietnam: Notes of Friendship will commemorate the beginning of Mexican independence in 1810, as well as the friendly ties between Mexico and Việt Nam.

“It is being organised by the Embassy of Mexico in the spirit of promoting arts and culture as the best possible way to encourage deeper ties between the peoples of both countries, in line with the excellent relationship between Mexico and Việt Nam, and its potential for growth, said Ambassador of Mexico Sara Valdes.

“Mauricio Diaz is a talented classic guitarist from Mexico keen on sharing his music in Việt Nam, and renowned classic guitarist Hằng will offer a series of concerts to showcase the work of Mexican and Vietnamese composers. Olivier Ochanine, musical director of the Sun Symphony Orchestra, will also be part of the project, and with their support, the concert will be a musical celebration of friendship, independence and optimism for the future of both nations,” she added.

According to the organisers, noted guitarist Diaz will play the concerto Saint Angel by Mexican composer Gerado Tamez and works by other renowned composers such as José Pablo Moncayo and J.Rodrigo.

“I’m honoured to perform with Hằng, one of the most renowned Vietnamese guitarists, whom I admire for her skilled techniques, on a prestisgious stage like the Hanoi Opera House,” said Diaz.

“Performing with Asian artists is an interesting cultural exchange in which we communicate in a mutual language: music,” he added.

The celebrations will continue in Đà Nẵng and HCMC with concerts by the Mexican-Vietnamese duo of guitarists on September 16 and 18.

The Sun Symphony Orchestra was established in 2017 and sponsored by Sun Group. As the first private orchestra in Việt Nam, the Sun Symphony Orchestra gathers prestigious names in its art jury including Vadim Simongauz, Javier Bonet and Stepan Yakovich.

Olivier Ochanine is a French conductor and flutist. He is founding music director and principal conductor of the Sun Symphony Orchestra, and the former music director and chief conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mauricio Diaz Alvarez is considered one of the most talented classical guitarists of his generation. He started studying music at the age of eight, and at 18 years old, he moved to Spain, where he pursued his degree at the Madrid Royal Conservatory, graduating with honours under the instruction of renowned Spanish guitarist Gabriel Estarellas. He has been awarded top international prizes at prestigious festivals.

Guitarist Nguyễn Thanh Hằng studied at Liceu Music Academy in Barcelona under the guidance of noted guitairsts such as Carles Trepat. She then graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris.

She has taught the guitar at various schools in Spain since 2003 and performed at many international events including Printemps de la Guitare (Belgium, 2002) and Concurso de Jóvenes Músicos de Cataluna (Barcelona, Spain, 2003). — VNS