VI
The performance opened with the Overture from the opera “Candide,” adapted from the literary work of the French writer Voltaire. In 1957, the Overture of “Candide” was performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of conductor Leonard Bernstein, creating a great sensation. Within just two years, more than 100 orchestras had performed this Overture. To this day, the Overture of “Candide” remains one of the works most frequently chosen by artists worldwide to perform.
Following the opera music will be a series of film scores featuring Nigel Hess's "Theme and Fantasy" (from the film Ladies in Lavender), John Williams' "Remembrances" (from the film Schindler's List), and Carlos Gardel's "Tango" (from the film Scent of a Woman), with the participation of violinist Vu Viet Chuong, returning from the United States.
John Williams is one of the most prominent composers today. His music has appeared in classic films like Star Wars, Superman, Harry Potter, and Indiana Jones. He is a valuable musical collaborator for the talented director Steven Spielberg.
In the second part, conductor Hector Guzman and the HBSO Orchestra will perform Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2, E minor, Op. 27.
Not only was Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov a highly successful composer, he was also renowned as one of the most talented pianists of his time and is known as one of the greatest representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music. Early influences from Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and other composers shaped his unique style. Rachmaninov's music is characterized by its lyrical, free-flowing tone, skillful structure, and rich timbre. For him, performing was a space to explore the full expressive potential of the piano.
Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 also appeared in the trailer for Birdman, the 2015 Oscar-winning film.With the influence of music in cinema, the concert "From Sergei Rachmaninov to John Williams" will be a breath of fresh air for classical music lovers.
Ho Chi Minh City Grand Theatre
No. 7 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Text: Bao Khuyen - Photos: HBSO
