KVT – VNOB performance at Hanoi Opera House

The last night of the Proms in Hanoi!

What a hoot!

If anyone had told me on Wednesday afternoon that a night at the Opera House with the National Opera and Ballet that evening was going to be one of the most enjoyable times I’ve spent under the trompe l’oeil dome of the GOB (grand old building), I’d have raised my eyebrows to a record high level.

It was like a Last Night of The Proms in some picturesque, flower bedecked, provincial town in Austria with the local symphony orchestra giving the polkas and marches and waltzes of the Johanns and Josef Strausses all the wonderful, euphoric energy they could muster.

It was all due to the magic spell that the wizardly conductor, Mikhail Shcherbakov, wove over the orchestra during their rehearsals, and over the audience with his visual jokes and clowning that gradually overcame our well behaved reticence (the sort of properness that accompanies classical music performances in proper places) and we joined in the fun with laughter and clap- alongs just as if it really was the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. I almost expected a resounding performance of Pomp and Circumstance- complete with the audience singing along in full throated voice- to round off an evening that still has me feeling energized, warm all over and with a glint of mischief hovering in the corners of my eyes.

The Orchestra obviously enjoyed playing Strauss as much as we enjoyed their joyful enthusiasm and they got a more than well deserved standing, clap-along ovation

If you ever hear of Maestro Shcherbakov taking over the helm of any Orchestra in Hanoi then rush the box office for the best seats. He is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the renowned Samara Academic Orchestra in Russia and is an accomplished violinist….as we enjoyed on the night.

Not that the VNOB played without fault but any errant notes were totally and wholeheartedly forgiven by an audience that seemed to be 100% in agreement with me.

Not that the program was all lighthearted fun and whirligig Strauss.

Part one was a tribute to the birth of Chopin in 1810 and his Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor was very creditably performed by Russian pianist, Irina Skobliakova-Bui and the plausible VNOB.

The pianist lives in Hanoi and is professionally associated with the VNOB and has international experience as a solo artist. Her interpretation of the concerto was vibrant and emotive.

Conductor Shcherbakov got the most possible out of the players and although the winds and brass sometimes didn’t come through strongly the concerto was able to flow freely. I was a bit worried that the players may have been getting left behind in the Rondo but the soloist held it all together and Chopin, the pianist, was done proudly enough.

Bravo Ms Skobliakova-Bui!

Applause and bouquets flooded the stage fast and furious.

It was one of those nights you’d like to be part of again and again and again

Thanks to the chief sponsor Nhat Trang Trade and Tourism Co Ltd who had the courage to take on a lesser known orchestra and give them a chance to sparkle in the metaphoric sun, and also to the Embassies of Spain, Cuba and Poland for co-sponsoring this truly entertaining night.

And maestro conductor….come back soon!

Madame pianist……more public performances please!

BRAVO VNOB!