The concert was joined by Vietnamese violinist Bui Cong Duy and the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra.

Born in Israel, Lior Shambadal has become a Chief Conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (Berliner Symphoniker) since 1997.

Maestro Shambadal has led more than 150 concerts at the famed Berlin Philharmonie as well as many open-air concerts at the Gendarmenmarkt and the Kulturbrauerei.

He has also conducted the orchestra in hundreds of performances during his trips to Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Spain, Ireland, England, France, and Germany. In 2009, he was named Music Director of the Orchestre Filarmonica de Bogota (OFB), Colombia, with whom he visited China and Italy in 2009 and 2010.

Reporter: Why did you agree to perform in Vietnam?

Lior Shambadal: It’s not the first time I’ve come to Vietnam. I came here many times before and visited Ho Chi Minh City, Hue and Ha Long Bay.

Kiet, a friend of mine had advised me to go to Vietnam to see many interesting things, and this is true-I find Vietnam more special than many other countries in the world. Vietnam is so special.

I’ve long planned on performing in Vietnam. This time I have a tight schedule in Vietnam, I must travel and work a lot. Fortunately, my co-worker, talented violinist Bui Cong Duy, has prepared thoughtfully. My recent performance in HCM City attracted many audiences.

Reporter: What has most impressed you in Vietnam?     

Lior Shambadal: Traffic in Vietnam and friendly people, living wholeheartedly for friends (smiling).

Reporter: How’d you feel before performing?

Lior Shambadal: I’ll dedicate with all my heart to the performance. In preparation for the performance, Vietnamese artists and I have worked hard. Most of the artists in the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra are both young and talented and I like to work with them.

They spend much time with me and I share experiences with them. With all-out efforts, we believe the concert will be a success.

Reporter: How about your co-worker, violist Bui Cong Duy?

Lior Shambadal: He is a good driver and knows many restaurants with tasty dishes. I’m fond of spring rolls and fried fish. He’s really a good friend. We find common in music and soul, therefore, only after a few days, have we felt so familiar to each other as if we were long-time friends. I really want to invite him to Germany for a concert in the near future.

Reporter: What d’you think about Vietnamese music?

Lior Shambadal: I’ve listened to a lot of Vietnamese music such as traditional, popular and live music. The relations between language and music are actually interesting, however, Vietnamese music is quite different from what I’ve ever heard.

I realise that Vietnamese music now trends to westernization that sounds good. I’ve listened to “Returning to the motherland” composed by Nguyen Van Thuong, which is performed by a female artist, and I’ve found it emotional. Listening to the recording, I imaged profoundly, but when I came to the village where he had found inspiration for such a piece of music, I felt much emotional.

Reporter: What about your plan in the future?

Lior Shambadal: First of all, I will invite violinist Bui Cong Duy to perform in Germany. Then, I’ll have a performance tour of China and France.

Reporter: Thank you very much!