Cellist Đinh Hoài Xuân and musician Đỗ Hồng Quân, chairman of the Việt Nam Musicians Association are seen at the press conference introducing Cello Fundamento Concert on Sunday in Hà Nội. — VNS Photo Đỗ Hữu

HÀ NỘI — Cellist Đinh Hoài Xuân will host the fourth edition of the Cello Fundamento Concert on December 29 in Hà Nội, featuring 60 international and Vietnamese artists.

With the theme Home Sweet Home, the concert is dedicated to Xuân's homeland Việt Nam, where she nurtured her passion for cello.

The concert marks her return after four years studying and performing in Romania. It’s also a personal celebration of Xuân becoming the first PhD in Việt Nam majoring in cello music at the end of this year, after four years studying at the Bucharest National University of Music. 

The repertoire will include Bach's Cello Suite No 1 (Bach), Fantasiestucke: Adagio and allegro (Schumann) and some Romanian folk songs.

Xuân will perform together with Romanian conductor Ciprian Marinescu, conductor of the Osaka Symphony Orchestra, cellist Răzvan Suma, who was Xuân’s teacher at the Bucharest National University of Music, pianist Yamaguchi Hiroaki from Japan, and pianist Ella Bokor from Romania.

The concert will also feature pianist Chử Hải Ly and clarinetist Trần Khánh Quang who are lecturers at the Việt Nam National Academy of Music.

Xuân started studying music at the age of 10, with organ and piano at first, before beginning a career as a cellist. She has performed in countries including Italy, Spain, Greece, Russia and Australia.

She launched the Cello Fundamento Concert series in 2016, to bring a harmony performance of Vietnamese and foreign artists to spread passion for cello, bring classical music closer to the public and engage more young artists in playing cello.

“In the history of music, cello plays an integral part in songs,” said Xuân.

“Cello helps build a bridge between high and low levels of sound in a symphony orchestra. It also charms people in solo performance.”

“Cello Fundamento Concert is a harmony combination of cello with other musical instruments such as piano, violin and the orchestra,” said Xuân.

“That’s the reason I tried to engage musical talents of Việt Nam and the world in the concerts. In each edition, apart from classical music, the artists will present Vietnamese folk songs exclusively composed for the concert. It’s a new way to enjoy classical music that I want to show people.”

The artists will also perform Trống Cơm (Little Drums) composed especially for cello and the orchestra by musician Đỗ Hồng Quân, chairman of the Việt Nam Musicians Association.

“I have composed this folk song for the symphony orchestra before, but this time I compose the piece highlighting the role of three cellos playing together,” said Quân.

“I tried to introduce strong points and techniques of cello through the exciting song. At some sections, I noted that artists use left hands to beat on the instruments to creating interesting effects and cheerful melodies,” he said.

Musician Phó Đức Phương said he appreciated Xuân's efforts to bring cello closer to the public.

“Xuân is a young artist with talent, strong will, passion and creativity, she has gained some respectful achievements.”

The Cello Fundamento Concert No 4 will take place at the Hà Nội Opera House, 1 Tràng Tiền Street, Hà Nội.

Apart from the concert, Xuân will host some sideline activities to popularise cello and classical music.

Students from the Việt Nam National Academy of Music will have a chance to attend master classes with artists of the Cello Fundamento Concert which will take place on December 27.

Proceeds from tickets, which cost VNĐ1-5 million, will be used to sponsor music students in Hà Nội and Huế.

After the main concert, Xuân will work with the Phú Xuân University, Huế, to perform music for 100,000 students at a series of concerts at universities in the central region. — VNS