Special music show to wrap up celebration of VN-Italy relations

HÀ NỘI — Three months after her concert tour in Italy, Vietnamese violinist Trịnh Minh Hiền is set to captivate audiences at a special music show in Hà Nội on Sunday, December 3.

Titled Phượng Linh (Sacred Phoenix), the show is organised by the Italian Embassy in Việt Nam in partnership with the Việt Nam Union of Friendship Organisations. It concludes a series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Italy.

Hiền will perform a repertoire of 17 pieces, either arranged or composed by her. These pieces are from her CD album, also named Phượng Linh, released in April to mark her 20 years in music. During her August tour across various Italian municipalities, Hiền mesmerised the Italian audiences with her fusion of Vietnamese folk melodies and dynamic performance style.

The show uses the phoenix, a mythical figure in Eastern culture, as its symbol. Through its melodies, it takes the audience on an imaginative journey from East to West, traversing the mountainous northwest of Việt Nam, the vast Central Highlands, the ancient Chăm culture, and the snow-capped peaks of Tibet.

Three months after coming back from her tour concert in Italy, violinist Trịnh Minh Hiền will allure the audience at the special music show Phượng Linh (Sacred Phoenix) in Hà Nội. — Photo courtesy of the artist

This marks the first occasion that the compositions of the female artist will be played live for audiences in Việt Nam.

Hiền expressed that her musical essence embodies her national aspirations and the Vietnamese spirit, elements she intends to showcase in the upcoming performance.

In a unique opening act, Italian guest pianist Maurizio Mastrini will play the Vietnamese national anthem Tiến Quân Ca (The Marching Army Song), complemented by Vietnamese violinist Hiền performing the Italian anthem Il Canto degli Italiani.

Mastrini, acclaimed as one of Italy’s most creative pianists and composers, will also feature several pieces from his latest album Baci (Kisses).

Italian guest pianist Maurizio Mastrini will perform the Vietnamese national anthem Tiến Quân Ca (The Marching Army Song) to open the music show Phượng Linh (Sacred Phoenix) in Hà Nội. — Photo courtesy of the artist

The upcoming special music show Phượng Linh will feature a lineup of guest artists including Vietnamese diva Thanh Lam, tenor Trịnh Thanh Bình, contemporary dancer Hà Tứ Thiên, đàn bầu (monochord) player Lệ Giang, cellist Bùi Hà Miên, flutist Ngọc Anh, and French guitarist and violist Vincent Fillatreau. The show is scheduled for 8pm on Sunday, December 3, at the Youth Theatre, 11 Ngô Thì Nhậm Street, Hà Nội.

Born in 1980, violinist Hiền is a celebrated artist with numerous achievements in her career. After graduating with distinction from the National Academy of Music in Violin in 2003, she joined the Việt Nam National Symphony Orchestra as a principal member. In 2007, Hiền earned the “Impressive Composer” title at the Bài Hát Việt (Vietnamese Song) TV show for her composition Gọi Tôi Hà Nội (Call Me Hà Nội).

Since 2018, she has been pursuing a solo career, collaborating with various renowned Vietnamese and international artists. In February, Hiền was the sole Vietnamese performer at the concert Valentine from Italy with Love, hosted by the Italian Embassy at the Hà Nội Opera House. — VNS