
Artists participating in the "Songs of Affection" program.
On the evening of December 28th, at the City Theater (7 Lam Son Square, Ho Chi Minh City), a cultural exchange and artistic performance program showcasing the musical profiles of composer Lu Nhat Vu and poet Le Giang, themed "Songs of Gratitude," will officially take place. This is a deeply meaningful cultural and artistic event, aiming to honor two great artists who dedicated their lives to revolutionary poetry and music, and the folk music heritage of Southern Vietnam.
The program is jointly organized by the Vietnam Musicians Association, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports , the Ho Chi Minh City Music Association, and Ho Chi Minh City Television; and implemented by the Ho Chi Minh City Arts Center and the Music Department of Ho Chi Minh City Television. The performance will be filmed and broadcast by Ho Chi Minh City Television, promising to widely spread the enduring values of Vietnamese music and poetry to the public.
Lu Nhat Vu - From the spirit of the countryside to music
The program "Songs of Affection" is a performance staged as an epic poem of poetry, music, and the nation, recreating the creative journey of composer Lu Nhat Vu and poet Le Giang over more than half a century. According to Meritorious Artist Le Thien, "They are two artists, two life partners, two kindred spirits who have gone through war and peace together. They are shining examples for the younger generation to follow."

Singer Dong Dao
The program will open with the musical scene "Song of the Southern Land," a highly symbolic opening piece where the poetry of Le Giang meets the music of Lu Nhat Vu to open up a realm of alluvial memories and sentimental bonds. From there, the artistic flow will lead the audience into Part I: Poetry – Music and the Homeland, with recitations, storytelling, and folk music performances, highlighting the source of resistance poetry, where poetry precedes music, and music becomes a voice accompanying the nation's history.
The concert will recreate familiar songs such as: "Saigon Girl Carrying Ammunition," "The Sound of Gongs Crossing the Waterfall," "Beside the Monument to Uncle Ho," "The Song of the Pioneers," "Rest Assured, Mother,"... through performances by many renowned artists, evoking a time when "singing drowned out the sound of bombs," where art became a spiritual strength for the Vietnamese people.
Songs of Gratitude – a tribute to our roots.
Part II of the concert will be a more serene and warm atmosphere, where Southern Vietnamese folk music is present as an undercurrent nourishing the entire career of the two composers. The familiar melodies and songs, collected, transcribed, and newly written by Lu Nhat Vu and Le Giang, will be recreated through medleys, musical scenes, dance performances, and even children's performances.

Singer Bich Phuong
The participation of singer Bich Phuong – daughter of the renowned singer Ut Tra On – signifies the continuation of tradition, as a tribute from the younger generation to the predecessors who have diligently preserved and spread the soul of Southern folk music.
Besides performances, the program also included a Q&A session with representatives from the theoretical and critical circles and artists, further clarifying the academic value and the value of preserving intangible cultural heritage in the research and collection of folk songs by Lu Nhat Vu and Le Giang.
Without fanfare or fanfare, composer Lu Nhat Vu and poet Le Giang have chosen a quiet yet enduring path of creativity. Their poetry is simple yet profound, their music is understated yet lingering – just like the people of Southern Vietnam: affectionate, loyal, resilient, and gentle. "A Song of Affection" will therefore be a musical evening evoking many memories of the unique music and culture of the South.
Composer Lu Nhat Vu once shared: "Literature is the soul of a nation; preserving literature is preserving oneself." The concert concluded with the song "A Song of Affection," featuring a large number of artists, singers, and performers, like a chorus of memories intertwined with the country and its people, which will resonate for a long time in the hearts of the public.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/khuc-hat-an-tinh-dem-tri-an-lu-nhat-vu-le-giang-196251226053409233.htm











