Harp Night with Artist Xavier De Maistre

On the evening of August 17 at the Ho Guom Theater, harpist Xavier De Maistre and the Sun Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Olivier Ochanine brought a fascinating dialogue between North and East Europe.

Performance by harpist Xavier De Maistre and the Sun Symphony Orchestra. (Photo: HO GUOM THEATRE)

Xavier De Maistre was the principal harpist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. During the performance at the Hoan Kiem Theater, he performed Reinhold Gliere’s harp concerto – a work famous for its blend of romantic lyricism and complex technique.

Through his performance, the harp not only plays a gentle decorative role in the orchestra, but becomes a strong dialogic voice, rich in personality and its own color.

Artist Xavier De Maistre shared: “This is my first time performing in Vietnam and it is truly a special experience. Reinhold Gliere’s Concerto is both romantic and technically demanding, written specifically for a famous Russian harpist of the time. I believe this is the perfect piece to fully display the beauty and rich nuances of the harp."

In the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, I often appear as an accompaniment to opera singers or accompany famous conductors, but I am not the central figure in the orchestra. This time in Hanoi, it is different, I have the opportunity to bring the harp to the center of the stage, to become the main voice. What excites me most is when I can freely promote this unique musical instrument, so that Vietnamese and international audiences can experience a concerto dedicated to the harp. For me, this pioneering role is extremely interesting and meaningful, artist Xavier De Maistre added.

For nearly two hours, under the delicate guidance of conductor Olivier Ochanine, the harp resonated among the melodies imbued with identity. We could clearly feel the vitality and colors of Hungarian folklore in Zoltán Kodály's Dances of Galanta; while Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 7 surged with tragic and fierce sounds, opening up a vast space and also an opportunity for the audience to explore their own deep, inner emotions.

The skillfully arranged program, with an emotional performance by Xavier De Maistre, conductor Olivier Ochanine and the Sun Symphony Orchestra, opened a journey to approach classical music in a unique way through the sound of the harp. Not only did the concert show off the artists' skillful techniques, it also affirmed the Sun Symphony Orchestra's mark in its efforts to bring new experiences to the Vietnamese public.

CAO HUONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/dem-nhac-hac-cam-cung-nghe-si-xavier-de-maistre-post901602.html