Musician Quoc Trung 'lied' to invite the oldest orchestra in England to perform in Vietnam.

Quoc Trung said he once lied to a representative of the London Symphony Orchestra to be able to invite the orchestra to perform in Vietnam.

Conductor Antonio Pappano - Photo: Organizing Committee

Four concert seasons have passed, and the fifth season of Vietnam Airlines Classic - Hanoi Concert 2025 (VACC) will meet Vietnamese audiences again at the Hoan Kiem Theater, Hanoi on the nights of October 10 and 11.

Musician Quoc Trung had to lie

The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is the oldest orchestra in Britain and one of the leading orchestras in the world .

Inviting a world-class orchestra like the LSO to Vietnam requires professional preparation as well as overcoming many difficulties.

Sharing at the press conference right before the concert, Quoc Trung recounted the memory of the first time he contacted the orchestra to invite them to perform in Vietnam. They were very welcoming but also very worried because "they didn't know where this guy came from, whether he was serious or just talking nonsense".

Fortunately, during the meeting in London that year, the musician made a good impression on the orchestra.

However, the LSO has principles when accepting overseas performance invitations. Their concerts are planned and prepared about 2 years in advance.

This is a very normal thing in the world but is a big challenge for organizations in Vietnam where annual planning is not yet a common practice in the industry.

The organizers must meet extremely strict requirements to protect valuable instruments and ensure the quality of performances offered by the orchestra.

For example, the trucks transporting musical instruments must have specialized shock absorbers. The orchestra's technical director must also personally survey the route from the airport to the performance venue in advance to ensure the road is not bumpy and will not affect the instruments. They are that meticulous.

Especially when performing outdoors, the orchestra is very concerned about temperature and humidity. That year, Quoc Trung had to "lie" about the humidity, saying that Hanoi's temperature in March was "very nice" to convince the orchestra, and luckily the weather that day was really nice.

Musician Quoc Trung shares at the press conference before the concert - Photo: BTC

The oldest orchestra in England plays the Vietnamese national anthem

The event opened with Tien Quan Ca by Van Cao, also the Vietnamese National Anthem, arranged by musician Luu Quang Minh.

Musician Quoc Trung said "the performance is not a ceremonial procedure but brings immediate feelings of pride and emotion to the audience when listening to the national anthem expressed through sound and performance".

Conductor Antonio Pappano expressed that when performing the National Anthem , he and the London Symphony Orchestra wanted to show special respect to the organizers and the Vietnamese audience.

The concert hall was filled with world-class music.

On this year's tour, the UK's most famous orchestra brings two masterpieces of world classical music. That is Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, Op. 67 - the work often called "The Symphony of Fate" with its immortal opening four notes, symbolizing the will and aspiration to overcome adversity.

The remaining work is Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, Op. 93, one of the great works of the century, which impresses with its blend of tragedy, satire and philosophical depth, reflecting the ups and downs of history and human destiny.

"Both works require very high performance energy and are inspired by great historical figures from different periods," said Quoc Trung, "the combination of Beethoven and Shostakovich creates a dramatic musical dialogue."

The concert was broadcast live on a large screen at the Martyrs' Monument and Hoan Kiem Lake walking street, so that residents and tourists could enjoy the symphony atmosphere right in the heart of the city, bringing classical music closer to the public.

BEAN DUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhac-si-quoc-trung-noi-doi-moi-moi-duoc-dan-nhac-lau-doi-nhat-nuoc-anh-ve-viet-nam-dien-20251011023630603.htm