HÀ NỘI — A concert will feature the Sức Sống Mới ensemble with bamboo-made instruments performing Vietnamese folklore music and the opera Carmen in Hà Nội on October 19 & 20.

The concert entitled Tre Mùa Thu 3 (Bamboo in Autumn) will open with two folklore music pieces entitled Chim Pơ rô tốc Gọi Mùa and Đi Cắt Lúa (Going to Crop).  

Chim Pơ rô Tốc is a folklore piece of the Central Highlands Province of Đắk Lắk. The ensemble conductor Đồng Quang Vinh leaned how to play the piece from a native Đắc Lắc bamboo flutist long time ago.

Đi Cắt Lúa is from the H’rê ethnic group. It will be performed by klông pút soloist Trương Thu Hương.  K’lông put is a popular musical instrument closely associated with the spiritual life of the Ba Na, Xê Đăng, Gia Rai and Ê Đê groups in the Central Highlands of Việt Nam. 

The concert will highlight the first appearance of the đàn bầu (monochord instrument) in the ensemble.

"Đàn bầu is not only a unique instrument but also a symbol of Việt Nam," said the conductor. “The magnificent sound of đàn bầu will fascinate the concert-goers."

The conductor will lead the 18-member ensemble to perform extracts from Carmen for the first time, including the aria Habanera and Danse Boheme.

In addition, the concert is not only being held for adults but also for children, with pieces Taupinette (Gerard Dalton), Hedgehog’s Song (Phillippe Chatel), and La sorcière Grabouilla (Michel Briant) by the children’s choir from Erato Music School.

Hanoi Voices, an international choir, together with guest artist Japanese Ryoko Boumuki will perform at the concert. Established by conductor Vinh in 2013, the ensemble plays traditional Vietnamese instruments made of bamboo.

The combination between the bamboo ensemble and choirs, and the traditional musical instruments and classical works, promises to deliver a new experience that will delight fans of classical and traditional music.

The ensemble founder conductor Vinh graduated from the orchestral conducting programme at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Vinh was also awarded a full scholarship for most distinguished foreign student by the China National Foundation, and then obtained a Master’s in orchestral conducting.

He is also a soloist, performing with a variety of traditional music instruments and is frequently invited to conduct and perform on international stages. He currently is guest conductor of Việt Nam National Opera & Ballet, Việt Nam National Symphony Orchestra and Việt Nam National Accademy of Music. 

Tre Mùa Thu 3 concert will begin at 8pm at L’Espace. — VNS