European Music Festival 2012

EUROPEAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012 TO HEADLINE THE PROMINENT CULTURAL EVENT IN VIETNAM

European Music Festival 2012: 22 Nov – 02 Dec 2012, 8 pm
Youth Theatre, Hanoi
HCMC Conservatory of Music, HCMC

From Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam:

Over the past ten years, the European Music Festival in Vietnam has introduced a remarkably diverse line-up of concerts to its stage in November in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Bringing together musical talents from the European Union, the European Music Festival aims at reaching a diversified audience with a varied repertoire to celebrate the richness of European culture. This year, the Festival once again invites artists and audiences of all ages to experience music in established and conventional settings, exploring the combination of classic and contemporary rhythms.

Over more than past 20 years, relations between the European Union (EU) and Vietnam have developed vigorously. Relations extend far beyond commercial, investment and development ties. The two sides continue to strengthen linkages and build bridges between the peoples of the European Union and the Vietnamese people, across the board

Cultural exchanges and public diplomacy activities are an important part of these efforts. Events such as the present European Music Festival showcase the European Union’s strength, its “unity in diversity” and, more generally, the richness of European culture, contributing to better understanding and reciprocal knowledge, thus reinforcing relations between Europe and Vietnam.

This year’s Festival will feature musicians from Wallonia-Brussels (Belgium), Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom, embracing classical music, jazz, and pop.

The Festival will be opened in Hanoi on 22 November with a performance by the German pianists, Duo d’Accord. The Duo premiered their performance in Vietnam, at the Europe Day Concert in 2011, which was highly acclaimed by Vietnamese spectators. The two pianists Lucia Huang and Sebastian Euler from Duo d’Accord play virtuoso works for two pianos as passionately as compositions for piano, four hands can be. In addition to their own arrangements, the duo performs works composed specifically for them and remarkable revivals of classic pieces.

For fans of classical music, two piano concerts by Hungarian pianist György Oravecz and Polish pianist Karol Radziwonowicz respectively will no doubt captivate their musical soul with remarkable compositions.

Hungarian pianist György Oravecz, started his piano studies at the age of eight. He graduated from the Franz Liszt Music Academy, where he studied under professors István Lantos and Zoltán Kocsis.  He was prize winner of the Hungarian Radio Piano Competition in 1985 as well as being awarded the Cziffra Prize connected with a scholarship, while Polish pianist Karol Radziwonowicz – a pianist educated in Poland and the USA, with years of performing experience in various musical centers throughout Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Asia. After graduation from The Fryderyk Chopin National Music Academy in Warsaw with the highest honors, Radziwonowicz has won prizes at a number of important competitions, as well as the American Scholarship Fulbright Competition.

The Festival continues with performances by musicians of Manuel Hermia Trio from Wallonia Brussels and the British band Empirical that will take audiences into sophisticated jazz melodies with great passion.

Trio Manuel Hermia will take audiences into a jazzy world rooted in the tradition and at the same time open to all influences, music both modern and risk-loving, but still accessible. In the meanwhile, the unique music by Empirical manages to be both timeless and totally. In just a few short years they have carved out a place as one of jazz’s most exciting young bands and they have won numerous awards including the 2010 MOBO for best jazz act and Jazzwise and Mojo albums of the year.

The band from the Netherlands Yori Swart will present Yori Swart, who has won Holland’s most important prize for singer/songwriters.

The Festival will be closed on 2 December with a performance by the Swedish artist Emma Tranströmer. The mezzo soprano Ms Emma Tranströmer is the daughter of the Swedish Nobel Laureate for Literature Mr Tomas Tranströmer. She performs musical interpretations of her father’s acclaimed poetry putting each strophe in focus.

H.E.Mr Franz Jessen, Ambassador – Head of the Delegation of the European Union said, “The event is an annual celebration of music excellence that makes the joy of music accessible to all. Whether your primary interest is in serious contemporary music, world music, jazz, international cultural development or just enjoying fantastic entertainment, the European Music Festival offers unforgettable concerts to connect with.”

Full information about the event can be found at: http://www.eumusicfestival.com
Photos of the bands can be found at: www.flickr.com/photos/eudelvietnam

Admission is free. Tickets can be reserved and collected from 19 November 2012 onwards at:

Hanoi:

Goethe Institute
56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học, Tel: 04- 3 7 34 2251/52

British Council
20 Thụy Khuê. Tel: 04 38436780

HCMC:

Goethe Institut
18 Đường số 1, Cư xá Đô Thành, Phường 4, Quận 3, Tel: 08 36009587

British Council
25 Lê Duẩn, Quận 1, Tel.: 08 38232862