Singers to celebrate National Day with patriotic tunes

A highlight of the many cultural activities held on National Day, September 2, will be the national concert Dieu Con Mai (Remaining with Time), which features well-known revolutionary songs.

Organised by Vietnamnet – one of Vietnamese leading online newspapers – the annual concert has become a favourite music programme which is awaited by audience of all ages, especially older people and war veterans.

According to Vietnamnet Editor-in-Chief Pham Anh Tuan, the concert's planning team has had to race against time to prepare for the performance.

"We have had only one month to deal with tonnes of work, from discussions with the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) to negotiating with the Hanoi Opera House for the performing venue, along with deciding on the repertoire for the invited artists," Tuan said.

Last year's annual concert could not be staged because of economic difficulties.

"We should no longer disappoint our audience, who have supported and accompanied us since the concert's debut in 2009. That's why we decided that ‘we have to do this successfully.'

"Luckily, our valued sponsors have come back to us," he said.

The one-and-a-half-hour concert will start with Vietnam's national anthem, performed by the VNSO under the baton of noted conductor Le Phi Phi, who currently works in Macedonia.

Also, conductor Phi and his orchestra will accompany a choir performing the song To Quoc (Motherland) by Ho Bac. Famed singer Trong Tan will be the choir's presenter.

Additionally, soprano Ha Pham Thang Long and baritone Manh Dung will join the choir to perform the song Vinh Quang Hon Dan Toc (Glorious Nation) by Do Hong Quan.

Long will also present the aria Co Sao (Miss Sao) composed by composer Do Nhuan. Written in 1963, the patriotic opera was the first to be performed with Vietnamese patriotic music.

Singers Tung Duong, Dang Duong, and Lan Anh will perform the song Tieng Hat Giua Rung Pac Bo (The Vocal in Pac Bo Jungle) by Nguyen Tai Tue, Chiec Khan Pieu (Pieu Scarf) by Doan Nho, Nguoi Lai Do Tren Song Pa Ko (Ferryman on Pa Ko River) by Cam Phong, and Bam Bien Que Huong (Stay with Homeland's Sea) by Pham Tuyen.

Also, accompanied by the VNSO, violinist Xuan Huy will play the work Bai Ca Chung Thuy (Song of the Loyalty) by Hoang Duong.

The VNSO will later present an extract entitled Dien Bien Phu on the Air from the symphony December by composer Tran Manh Hung, as well as the Vietnamese folk tune Cay Truc Xinh (Little Bamboo Tree).

The concert Remaining with Time will start at 2pm at Hanoi Opera House and will be broadcast live on VTC1 channel.-VNA