Famous Vietnamese-Australian pianist to play in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnamese-Australian star Nguyen Van Anh will headline a friendship concert programme in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties.

Vietnamese-Australian star Nguyen Van Anh
Vietnamese-Australian star Nguyen Van Anh

The Ho Chi Minh City Ballet, Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) announced that the concert will take place at the Saigon Opera House on September 9.

Anh is well-known as a pianist and composer in Australia, where her engaging personality has created her reputation as a standard-bearer for the Australia-Vietnamese community.

She will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody”, which was composed over six weeks in 1934.

The work, including 24 variations on Paganini’s famous 24th Capriccio (caprice), is said to be one of the most difficult violin pieces ever written.

After the interval, the HBSO orchestra will present Cesar Frank’s “Symphony in D Minor”, which was composed between 1886-1888.

Cesar Frank was born in Belgium and later took French citizenship, beginning his career as an organist before becoming a composer. He produced several works that have since become very famous - such as “Violin Sonata”, “Symphonic Variations” (for piano and orchestra) and “Piano Quintet”.