HÀ NỘI — The Quintet of the Seinajoki City Orchestra will perform Finnish and Vietnamese music at free concerts in Hà Nội on December 5 and 7.

At the two concerts, the Pohjanmaa Quintet will also play with Vietnamese musicians from Hà Nội Arts School.

The Pohjanmaa Quintet is Finland’s only regular wind quintet with the same configuration. It was founded in 1991 as a part of the orchestra which is known not only for tango music but also as a classical orchestra in South Ostrobothnia.

The orchestra has had concerts in its homeland of Finland but also in Germany, Russia, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Chile and Việt Nam.

Taking place at Công Nhân Theatre on December 5, 42 Trang Tien Street, the concert will feature Finnish music by composers Jean Sibellius, Joonas Kokkonen, Atso Almila and Lauri Toivio. In addition, three Ostrobothnian folk songs which were arranged by Jouko Vijanen for the quintet will be played.

Entitled Mùa Đông Phương Bắc (Winter from the North), the second concert on December 7 will be held at Hà Nội Arts School, 7 Hai Bà Trưng Street. Highlighting of the concert will be a performance by the quintet and the school’s traditional musicians. They will play folk song Trống Cơm from northern Việt Nam.

The concerts are held by the Hà Nội People’s Committee, South Ostrobothnia Region, the Finnish Embassy and Asia Renko to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Finland-Việt Nam diplomatic relations and the 10th year of Hà Nội-South Ostrobothnia friendship relations.

The concerts are free for music lovers who are interested in Finnish music. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis. — VNS