Saigon guitar festival to feature local, international soloists

Tamonori Arai of Japan will perform at the concert “The Magic of Guitar” during the Saigon International Guitar Festival at the HCM City Conservatory of Music from October 31 to November 4 (Photo courtesy of the organisers)

Dozens of international and local string soloists will give four concerts during the annual Saigon International Guitar Festival in Ho Chi Minh City from October 31 to November 4.

The opening concert “Italian Voices to Chaconnes by the Masters” on October 31 will feature classical guitarist Gérard Abiton of France, together with guitar duo Thu Le and Lorenzo Bernardi of Italy, the Saigon Guitar Ensemble, and the Vietnam Guitar Ensemble.

Featured compositions include those by Vivaldi, Rossini, Legnani and Bach, arranged by Abiton, who has been a soloist with many prestigious orchestras in France, the UK, the US and Mexico.

On November 1, there will be a “Serenade of the Festival” with guitarists Kim Chung of Vietnam, Leon Koudelak of the Czech Republic, and the duo Rene Izquierdo of the US and Carlos Aonzo of Italy, who will play works by Schubert, Merlin and Paganini.

The festival will include a friendship concert on November 2, featuring young guitarists from Vietnam and Japan, and the Saigon Guitar Quartet. 

In the third concert “Romance in the Night” on November 3, guitarists Salvatore Foderà of New Zealand and Paul Cesarczyk of the US will perform works by Regondi, Scarlatti, and Amigo, while Cesarczyk and Izquierdo will perform songs by The Beatles.

Foderà received a Master’s in Music Performance and a Master’s in Music Pedagogy at the City of Basel Music Academy in Switzerland.

He began performing at many international music festivals when he was very young.

Cesarczyk made his New York City debut at the age of 17 at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. He has been performed throughout the US, Europe, and Asia.

The final concert of the series, “The Magic of Guitar”, will be held on November 4 and include works by Brouwer, Mangoré and Bach performed by Tamonori Arai of Japan, and Izquierdo.

Arai has held recitals in Germany, Austria, France, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Italy, Thailand, Nepal, and the Philippines.

He teaches at Ueno Gakuen University and the Gendai Guitar Academy in Japan.

Izquierdo, who has won numerous international awards, is a professor of classical guitar at the Wisconsin State University in Milwaukee in the US.

The festival will include master classes and guitar workshops hosted by international and local guest performers.

The event will be held at the HCM City Conservatory of Music on 112 Nguyen Du Street in District 1. Tickets are available at www.ticketbox.vn.

VNS/VNA