HBSO honours composer Trọng Đài with new oratorio

NEW PERFORMANCE: The HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera will stage a new oratorio Dấu Chân Thời Gian (Footsteps of Time) at the Opera House on September 8 to honour People’s Artist Trọng Đài. — Photo courtesy of HBSO

HCM CITY — The HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will stage a new oratorio highlighting new compositions by People’s Artist Trọng Đài at the Opera House on September 8.

Dấu Chân Thời Gian (Footsteps of Time) is written by Meritorious Artist Hoàng Hà Tùng, one of Việt Nam's outstanding painters. He is also a playwright and director of the musical Chuyện Của Dòng Sông Đỏ (A Story of Red River) which premiered in 2017 and received praise from critics and audiences.

The oratorio consists of three chapters: Bình Minh (Sunrise), Mắt Tằm (Lying Silkworm Eyes) and Châu Thổ (Delta), depicting the breath of life and hardship of human life.

The work includes 15 songs such as Khai Từ (The Opening), Giao Mùa (Seasonal Change), and Những Miền Đất (The Lands). The lyrics promise to evoke personal feelings and moments of emotion.

Đài, a graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, has written hundreds of chamber music works and symphonies for solo, orchestra, and string quartets such as Tiếng Rao (Street Vendors’ Cries) and Giao Hưởng Điện Biên (Symphony of Điện Biên).

He has won top prizes at national music composition contests.

Đài is also well-known for songs written for films and plays such as Hà Nội Đêm Trở Gió (Hà Nội on a Windy Night) with lyrics by Chu Lai for the theatre drama with the same name, and Chị Tôi (My Sister) in the TV series Đất và Người (Land and People).

In 2012, he was awarded the State Prize for Literature and Art.

TOP SOLOIST: Meritorious Artist Phạm Khánh Ngọc will be among HBSO soloists to perform in the concert. — Photo courtesy of HBSO

The performance will feature top soloists of the HBSO Opera such as Meritorious Artist Phạm Khánh Ngọc, Phạm Trang, Đào Mác, and Phan Hồng Dịu.

The concert will also have the participation of the HBSO Choir and Orchestra.

Meritorious Artist Trần Vương Thạch, former director of HBSO, will conduct the concert.

Thạch studied at leading music schools and conservatories in Belgium and the Netherlands.

He has performed in many countries, such as Germany, Italy, Scotland, Spain, France, Japan, and South Korea.

In 2020, he was granted the title "Knight of Arts and Letters" (Chevaliers des Lettres et des Arts) from the French government for his efforts to promote arts exchange between Việt Nam and France.

LEADING THE SHOW: Meritorious Artist Trần Vương Thạch, former director of HBSO, will conduct the concert. — Photo courtesy of HBSO

The concert will begin at 8pm. The venue is at 7 Lam Sơn Square in District 1. Tickets can be purchased at the venue’s box office and www.ticketbox.vn. — VNS