The Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony and Orchestra will celebrate its 19th anniversary with a gala concert featuring internationally reputed artists, conductor Le Phi Phi and pianist Nguyen Bich Tra.

The music night, called George Gershwin and Masterpieces from Italian Operas, presented on September 9 at the HCM City Opera House, will have vocal, solo instrumentals with orchestra, symphony and other pieces that will give the audience an unforgettable experience, organisers said.

A press release on the event says British-Vietnamese pianist Tra's performances have been praised as "coruscating" (The Independent), "sophisticated" (Rheinpfalz-Zeitung), and possessing "surpassing keyboard artistry and passion" (American Record Guide). She will perform two works – American in Paris, and Rhapsody in Blues.

Conductor Le Phi Phi, HBSO Choir and Symphony Orchestra and soloists will perform the second part, which features excerpts from famous operas of Italian composers Mozart, Puccini, Rossini and Verdi.

Born in Hanoi, Maestro Le Phi Phi graduated from Hanoi Conservatory of Music in 1986, majoring in piano and orchestra conducting. Later, in 1993, he graduated from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music.-VNA