Cheo-inspired music work to debut

The suite, Gio (Wind), includes five pieces: Chang Vang (Dusk), Oan (Injustice), Khat (Thirst), Ru Ke (Lullaby) and Hoa (Transformation), each performed by pianist Pho An My, People’s Artist Thanh Hoai, percussionist Nguyen Van Quy; flutist Le Huu Trung and fiddler Xuan Hai.

"The suite is inspired by classical cheo opera Quan Am Thi Kinh," said composer Nguyen.

"It characterises two female archetypes: Thi Kinh and Thi Mau. One symbolises patience and the other symbolises desire for love and life".

The work is the final piece of his project entitled West East Dialogue which he and pianist My have carried out since 2006. The project aims to combine piano and Vietnamese traditional music genres such as tuong (classical opera), ho Hue (Hue singing), hat coi (Tay ethnic singing) and chau van (van singing). The project has caught the attention of critics and audiences.

Gio marks the final leg of the cherished ten-year project.

The one-hour suite will open with a piano solo performance accompanied by People’s Artist Thanh Hoai’s vocal. She will also sing cheo in the second and third sections.

"I’m lucky to work with talent artists like Nguyen and My," said Hoai. "Each piece features human different emotions. I don’t have any difficultly singing with piano. Nguyen is very skillful at combining tradition and modernity through musical harmony".

Nguyen studied piano and music composition at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. He earned a Master of music in composition in 2008. His first work for cello and piano entitled Impromtu put him in the list of top ten young musicians at the Asian Music Festival in 2012.

The concert will begin at 8pm on October 19 at Cong Nhan Theatre, 42 TrangTien Street and will also take place December 3 at GEM Centre, No8 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, HCM City.