Symphony No 8 in the country's largest ever concert on Oct. 23 in Hanoi.
The concert will be conducted by Honna Tetsuji with a
nearly 1,000-member choir and musicians from Vietnam , Japan ,
Germany , Norway , France , Sweden , Hungary and Malaysia .
Symphony No 8 was composed in 1906. It is a choral symphony in the true
sense of the word and is always performed on a large scale. The first
part sets to music the traditional 9th hymn Veni Creator Spiritus which
will be sung in Latin, while the lengthy second part is an ambitious
presentation of nearly the entire final scene from Goethe's poem Faust
II.
After premiering in 1901 with over 1,000 artists, the
name a Symphony of a Thousand soon became attached to the piece, but
this was never approved or sanctioned by the composer, said Michael
Mosworth, an independent researcher.
Two mixed choirs and a
large children's choir from the Vietnam National Symphony and Orchestra
(VNSO), the Vietnam National Academy of Music, Japanese choir,
Malaysian choir, and Hanoi International Choir will take part.
Meanwhile eight individual vocal soloists including Kurano Ranko
(soprano I), Ha Pham Thang Long (soprano II), Einarsson Anna (Alto II),
Nyari Zoltan (tenor), and Katzameier Otto (bass) will be accompanied by a
150-member orchestra.
Appearing on the stage will be the
largest ever orchestra in the country including VNSO's musicians; 13
musicians from Rouen Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, seven string
instrument and clarinet musicians from Norway, and five musicians from
Japan including one harpist.
The symphony is always
challenging for both performers and serious listeners. Even some Mahler
fans have difficulty coming to grips with it, according to Michael
Mosworth.
The one and a half hour-concert will take place
at the National Convention Centre at 8pm. Choir conductor will be
Graham Sutcliffe./.
