KVT – Beautiful 3 weeks in a row

Last week’s dose of beauty was at the Opera House. The members of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra were elegantly beautiful in formal attire and the audience was at its elegantly beautiful best with nary a TV cameraman, a popping camera or a mobile phone user in indiscrete view.

Richard Strauss’ Oboe Concerto (1945) was very beautifully rendered by the orchestra and Japanese soloist Hirota Tomoyuki. It was one of those really magical occasions when you realize that the VNSO can mix it with the best of them. As soon as Hirota came on stage he looked as though he could have been the excellent conductor’s younger brother and you instinctively knew that you were in for a beautiful interpretation of Strauss’ reflective concerto.

Give or take a few glitches, Mahler’s 4th (1901) was another grand treat. The lead violinist in the second movement was delightful and the third movement was almost too beautiful for words. The Japanese soprano Koshigoe Mami effectively sang the naïve children’s song “Heaven’s Life” which is the quietly beautiful focus of the short final movement that ends almost too poignantly.

I am eagerly anticipating Mahlers 8th in October with the same soprano featuring in the line up of solo singers.

It was great to see the program complete with comprehensive and very readable performance information… a professional touch.

Thanks again, Ong Honna, for a wonderful night.

Catch the VNSO next on the 23 and 24th when they play D’Vorak’s New World Symphony… it will be another beautiful evening.

This week’s dose of pure beauty is sure to be provided at the Opera House by Skanes Dansteater dancing Black Water followed by a reprise of the incredibly beautiful Bamboo Rain… Unmissable.