A journey of "Gratitude" through music.

On the evening of May 22nd, at the Ho Guom Theatre in Hanoi, the chamber music concert "In Gratitude" took place, featuring performances by pianists Kevin Kenner and Nguyen Viet Trung.

The program is organized by the Vietnam Classical Music Association with the support of Impressivo Production and Enterprise.

Constructed as a contemplative artistic journey, In Gratitude is not only a thank you to the audience, but also a tribute to previous generations.

This is also a wordless dialogue between the artist and their predecessors, between the performer and the audience, between the past and the contemporary voice, all speaking together with a wide range of emotions.

The artists performing in the show. Photo: HGO

The program is structured into three parts. Part I - A Tribute to Heritage opens with Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 .

The work was written when the composer was very young, during a crucial transitional period before leaving Poland. With the piano playing of artist Kevin Kenner, the work not only exists as a legacy of the 19th century, but becomes a living entity, preserved, understood, and inspiring through generations of artists.

Pianist Kevin Kenner performs in the program. Photo: HGO

While the first part is introspective and nostalgic, Part II - Gratitude for the Journey, with the works Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op . 22, opens up a bright, radiant space, yet still retains Chopin's characteristic subtlety.

In Nguyen Viet Trung's approach, music serves as a self-narrative, an expression of gratitude, a humble and quiet thank you to those who have guided him on his educational journey. Here, "gratitude" is no longer an abstract concept, but becomes a personal experience transformed into sound.

Part III – Tribute to Humanity – immerses the audience in a direct dialogue between the two artists through works for two pianos. Johannes Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56b , is a prime example of how a composer engages with the past, not through repetition, but through recreation, transformation, and constant change. Dmitri Shostakovich's Concertino for Two Pianos, Op. 94 , offers a different nuance: intimate, flexible, and highly interactive.

Pianist Nguyen Viet Trung performs in the program. Photo: HGO

With its accessible program structure, artistic depth, and seamless connections, In Gratitude tells a poetic and philosophical story of music, offering the audience the opportunity to appreciate the diverse and gentle beauty of music.

The program features guest ensemble artists including Paweł Zalejski (Violin I), Tạ Khánh Linh (Violin II), Phùng Hoài Thu (Viola), Lưu Ly Ly (Cello), and Vũ Cẩm Tú (Contrabass), contributing to a complete and multi-dimensional chamber music experience.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/hanh-trinh-tri-an-qua-am-nhac-10417894.html