Asia-Europe New Music Festival starts with impressive works

The 2nd Asia-Europe New Music Festival themed ‘Music – Convergence and Pervasion’ kicked off on the evening of October 12 at Hanoi Opera House with the participation of 200 musicians and artists from nearly 30 Eurasian nations.

The second festival hosted by Vietnam shows domestic and foreign music composers’ belief in the country’s successful organization of such an international music event.

Nearly 100 pieces of music are performed during 11 main performances of symphony music, chamber music, chorus, opera and ballet.

In his opening speech, poet Huu Thinh, President of the Vietnam Writers' Association, said the festival gives a good chance to introduce Vietnam’s revolutionary and contemporary music achievements thus providing insights into Vietnam’s land, people, culture, and music as well as new trends of Eurasian music development.

The festival began with the presentation of 11 typical pieces of music of composers like Rashid Kalimullin from Russia, Marc Battier from France, Shai Cohen from Israel, Mak Yui-kan Raphael and Richard Tsang from Hong Kong, Jun HyunSuk from the Republic of Korea, Chris Gendall from New Zealand, Isao Matsushita from Japan, Robert Casteels from Singapore and Do Hong Quan and Nguyen Thieu Hoa from Vietnam.

‘Great grandfather turtle’ work inspired by Singaporean composer Robert Casteels during his first trip to Vietnam is the highlight of the opening ceremony.

 “ I felt the kind-heartedness of local people and the natural beauty of Vietnam through sad timbre of monochord (dan bau),” he said.

 After the opening ceremony, the festival will continue with free performances on October 13-18 at the Vietnam National Musical Academy (VNAM)’s Concert Hall and two workshops on New Musical Exchanges between Asian and European Countries and the Vietnamese monochord.

VOV