Vietnamese folk songs resound in the world's most famous concert hall

At the Berliner Philharmonie, one of the world's most prestigious concert halls, a German chamber choir performed Vietnamese folk songs for the first time in history.

Artist Tran Phuong Hoa (first, right) and artist Le Manh Hung (second from right) play traditional Vietnamese instruments in the performance of "The Beloved Black Horse" by the German Chamber Choir at the Berliner Philharmonie. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA correspondent in Germany.

This is the result of the Berlin - Hanoi 2023 music project by the German chamber choir Lichtenberger Piekfeine Töne - the fruit of the idea and collaboration between German conductor Katrin Hübner and the Vietnamese folk music artist couple Tran Phuong Hoa and Le Manh Hung, combining several Vietnamese vocalists to present musical works from Vietnam, Germany and the world in multiple languages.

Vietnamese folk songs such as "Beautiful Bamboo Tree," "Crossing the Bridge in the Wind," "Floating Water Lilies and Drifting Clouds," and "The Beloved Black Horse" were specially arranged for choir by Professor-Composer Dang Ngoc Long in Berlin, composer Jezzy Da Lam Huong Thao Nguyen in Munich, and female conductor Katrin Hübner. In addition to classical instruments, the choral accompaniment included traditional Vietnamese instruments performed by artists Tran Phuong Hoa and Le Manh Hung, a rare feature in four-part classical choir performances. These choral arrangements were performed by over 100 male and female vocalists from three German choirs in Berlin.

If integrating traditional Vietnamese music into the mainstream of modern music is difficult, then having Vietnamese folk songs resonate in a renowned "musical sanctuary," in a grand concert program, meticulously and skillfully staged, is even more challenging. Furthermore, the first-ever appearance of Vietnamese folk music in various European countries, major cities, famous historical sites, numerous international music festivals, in plays, feature films, documentaries, television programs, and orchestras of various genres, further demonstrates that Vietnamese culture has reached a level of global integration.

With the German Lichtenberger Piekfeine Töne Chamber Orchestra presenting Vietnamese works, this will also continue the series of "firsts" for Vietnamese folk music in Germany. Previously, in 1998, a Vietnamese folk music concert was performed at Berlin City Hall. In 2000, Vietnamese folk music appeared at the World Cultural Center in Berlin. In 2001, Vietnamese folk music was performed at Beethoven Haus in Bonn. In 2007, the teaching of Vietnamese folk instruments began in Berlin's music school system and has been regularly maintained to this day. In 2014, the zither, lute, and flute were combined with the Bremen Chamber Orchestra to create the opera "The Dragon and the Fairy". In 2015, the opera "The Dragon and the Fairy" was performed at the German Presidential Palace in Berlin. In 2022, the choir of Gymnasium Max Planck Berlin performed works such as "Trong Com" (Rice Drum), "Inh La Oi" (Oh, My Dear), "Cay Truc Xinh" (Beautiful Bamboo Tree), etc.

The performance of "Floating Water Lilies and Drifting Clouds" by the German Chamber Choir at the Berliner Philharmonie. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA correspondent in Germany.

Speaking with a reporter from the Vietnam News Agency (TTXVN), Professor Dang Ngoc Long, the composer of the choral work "Floating Water Lilies and Drifting Clouds," expressed his joy that Vietnamese folk music was selected to be performed at the Berliner Philharmonie. He shared: "Vietnamese folk music will develop and resonate throughout the country through this event. Especially in such a meticulously staged and vibrant performance, the selection of my piece 'Floating Water Lilies and Drifting Clouds' is a source of pride and emotion."

Mr. Nguyen Huy Liem, a classical music enthusiast, especially of Vietnamese folk songs arranged for choirs or instruments in general, shared: “For me, 'Floating Water Lilies and Drifting Clouds' is one of the successful performances. The choir and artists, though not professionals, presented unique and innovative performances, while still preserving the Vietnamese spirit in each piece.” Another audience member from Frankfurt said: “Under the direction of female conductor Katrin Hübler, the choirs and two Vietnamese folk music artists, Tran Phuong Hoa and Le Manh Hung, brought the audience vibrant performances with a strong Vietnamese flavor. Thousands of audience members stood up and applauded continuously, proving that they embraced Vietnamese music with great enthusiasm.”

It was even more gratifying to see that the packed auditorium contained many Vietnamese people who had studied, lived, and worked in Germany, flocking to witness this special concert. Many even lived in states hundreds of kilometers away, coming "to hear the German chamber choir perform Vietnamese folk songs."

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dan-ca-viet-nam-vang-len-trong-phong-hoa-nhac-danh-tieng-bac-nhat-the-gioi-post384372.html