Vietnamese composer and pianist Ton That An’s first orchestral piece, The Legend of Thanh Giong, will receive its premiere performance by the Berlin Symphony Orchestra at Philharmonie Hall in Berlin on February 24.

Now based in Chinese Taiwan, An is better known by his stage name of Aaken. A French-born Vietnamese, he is also an accomplished singer and songwriter who has made two albums, Circlesong (2005) and Hyperbody (2010), the latter recorded in Paris, Taipei, and Chicago.

The new composition was inspired by a famous Vietnamese fairy tale about Saint Giong, who, at just three years of age, fought Chinese invaders to save his country and suffering people.

The February 24 performance will include Vietnamese zither artist Nguyen Hien Nang and acrobatic duo Huynh Dinh and Van Anh, who won a gold medal at the Circus Festival in France.-VNA