HÀ NỘI — Nine European and Asian artists will perform together at an annual international chamber music concert at the Hà Nội Opera House on Wednesday.

Titled ‘Cello Fundamento Concert 3’, the event will feature Razvan Suma (Romania), Denis Severin (Switzerland), Stefan Cazacu (Romania), Mindaugas Bachus (Litva), Chu Yi-Bing (China), Leonid Gorokhov (Germany), Ella Bokor (Romania), Iulian Ochescu (Romania) and Đinh Hoài Xuân - the founder of Cello Fundamento concerts.

The concert will feature various works such as Bolero by Maurice Ravel, Elegie Op 24 by Gabriel Faure and Polonaise de Concert Op 14 by David Popper. The artists will perform in duo, trio and quartet and with the symphony orchestra.

At a press conference last week, Xuân said the highlights of the show are performances of Vietnamese song Trở Về Đất Mẹ (Return to the Motherland) by composer Nguyễn Văn Thương and the folk song Lý Ngựa Ô (Song of the Black Horse), which will be performed by all of the artists.

The songs were adapted for cello by composer Lưu Hà An, said Xuân. The performance will also include drummer Nam Phan and singer Diệu Hương

“I want to bring classical music, especially music from cello, closer to the audience,” said Xuân.

Through this concert, Xuân said she also wants to promote cultural exchanges between Vietnamese and foreign artists.

“It’s wonderful when Vietnamese and foreign artists perform music of the world and of Việt Nam on the same stage,” she said.

Xuân started studying music at the age of 10, with organ and piano at first, before beginning a career as a cellist.

Currently, she is studying cello in Bucharest with a sponsorship from the Government. She will finish a PhD thesis on performing and promoting cello music in Việt Nam next year.

Professor Suma is Xuân’s lecturer in Bucharest. He helped Xuân connect international artists and invite them to join the concert.

He said it’s one among important events to promote cello music in Việt Nam, connecting musicians from Romania and other countries.

“I met Xuân for the first time three years ago, after one hour talking to her, I realised that she is an interesting and ambitious artist who can help develop cello and classical music in Việt Nam,” said Suma.

“The relationship between Xuân and us is not one-way exchange because when she comes to Romania, she brings Vietnamese culture to us. Now she brings us here to know more about the local culture and introduce our music to the local audience.”

Cellist Bokor said she was happy to come to Việt Nam for the second time. She also performed at the Cello Fundamento last year.

“I have many opportunities to discover the country and culture,” she said. “Apart from the fact that I can’t eat dishes with much chili, I really love Vietnamese cuisine and have tried most specialities in Hà Nội.”

The Cello Fundamento Concert 1, first held in Hà Nội, Huế and HCM City in 2016, included performances by Xuân and three Romanian artists.

The second of its kind took place at the Hà Nội Opera House in 2017, drawing foreign artists from Romania, New Zealand, the US, Austria, Germany, and Ukraine. — VNS