Nguyễn Vĩnh Tiến (centre) at the press conference in Hà Nội. Photo nguoihanoi.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Vĩnh Tiến will tell his story of becoming a musician at a concert in Hà Nội on Saturday. 

The concert marks the first time Tiến has taken the leading role on the stage. Previously an architect, he made a name in music in 2005 when his songs Bà Tôi (My Grandmother) and Giọt Sương Bay Lên (Dew Drops Fly) won at the Bài Hát Việt (Vietnamese Song) awards.

His songs combine folklore and pop music, becoming hits at that time. With another two musicians, Lê Minh Sơn and Giáng Son, Tiến is regarded as creating a new style in the artform.

The concert, entitled Tiền Duyên (Predestined Love), will feature 24 songs by A-list singers such as Thanh Lam, Mỹ Linh and Ngọc Khuê. 

"I don't have chance to sing his music much," said Lam. "However, I have my own way of feeling his music and I hope I will make the songs distinctive at the concert."

Lam will sing two songs entitled Kiều and Đạm Tiên, which are the latest songs by Tiến. 

"I decided to organise the concert two months ago," Tiến said at a press conference held recently in Hà Nội. 

"I was recently promoted as a chief architect, so I think as I get older and experienced I should have a concert for myself. It will be an overview of my music path."

The highlight of the concert will be Cắt Tiền Duyên (Giving up Predestined Love). The song was inspired by an experience when he was 20 years old.

At that time, he had a dream for three consecutive nights. In the dream, he met and fell in love with a girl.

After that he was exhausted and sick. His mother was worried and conducted a ceremony to pray for his good health. According to Vietnamese folklore, the ritual would help a person give up on predestined love. 

"I was obsessed with the dream," said Tiến. "I think that the ups and downs in my marriage were due to predestined love."

At the concert, the singers will be accompanied by an orchestra with western and traditional instruments such as violin, viola, cello, bamboo flute, tranh (16-chord zither) and nhị (two-chord fiddle). 

During the two-hour concert, the audience will enjoy about 24 songs, including Bà Tôi. The song will have a new arrangement by musician Trần Đức Minh. 

Born in the northern province of Phú Thọ, the beauty of the area with green palm trees and tea hills are embedded in his memory. 

Before turning to music, he was a writer. He was the leader of a poetry group including talents Đỗ Hoàng Diệu, Phạm Tường Vân and Vũ Duy Hưng. 

He has won literature awards, including the Short Story Award by Văn Nghệ Trẻ (Young Literatture and Arts) newspaper, Best Poem Award by HCM Literature and Arts newspaper and Short Story Award by Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper. 

"Skilled writing enables him to write beautiful lyrics," said established musician Lê Minh Sơn. "His songs are poetic, with rich imagery, which easily touches the hearts of listeners."

The concert will also include songs that the musician wrote during periods of depression. 

"Depression is a problem in modern society," said Tiến. "Many people, including me, cannot escape from depression. My new baby girl in 2017 helped me to recover."

He has held concerts in France and Poland in 2012 and 2013. 

The concert will begin at 7.30pm at Hà Nội Opera House. Tickets and information are available at 082 6146888. VNS