Music show marks Toyota’s 21st year in Asia

Lorenzo Castriota Skanderbeg conducts his symphony orchestra

Orchestra Citta de Firenze from Florence, Italy, will perform the Toyota Classic Symphony at the Hanoi Opera House tonight to mark the Japanese company’s 21st anniversary in the Asia Pacific.

Renowned conductor Lorenzo Castriota Skanderbeg will wield the baton while tenor Leonardo Melani and talented young Vietnamese pianist Luu Hong Quang, who won the first prize at the 2009 Chopin Piano Contest in Australia, will perform.

The symphony promises an evening of classical Italian music with concertos and symphonies, extracts from traditional Italian operas like Rossini’s La gazza ladra and Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco.

The show is a part of a series of performances being held from October 23 to November 12 in many Asian countries.

In Vietnam it has been held annually since 1997, acquainting Vietnamese audiences with world masterpieces and enabling local artists to perform with foreign professionals.

The money raised from ticket sales will go into the Toyota scholarship fund for young Vietnamese musicians.

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Toyota Classics brings Florentine orchestra to Hanoi

Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) on Tuesday announced the lineup for this year’s Toyota Classics concert at Hanoi Opera House.

This year, Toyota presents the Città di Firenze  orchestra from Florence (Italy) conducted by Lorenzo Castriota Skanderbeg. The orchestra featuring tenor, Leonardo Melani, and young pianist, Luu Hong Quang, will play music by Verdi, Puccini and Rossini.

Quang has won several awards “The Piano Recital Award” in 2008 and first prize at “Chopin Piano Competition” in Australia in 2009.

It will be the 13th Toyota Classics in Vietnam supported by  the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“We granted total ticket proceeds of the 12 previous Toyota Classics concerts to support cultural activities and charity in Vietnam. This year TMV will continue what it started last year by using all ticket proceeds for the Toyota Scholarships for Vietnamese Young Music Talents,” said Akito Tachibana, President of TMV.

Since 1990, the humanitarian Toyota Classics has been held annually bringing classical music to the country and enhancing cultural exchange.

So far, the Toyota Classics has attracted audiences of more than 200,000 to154 concerts in the Asia-Pacific. In its 21st year, the event will be held from Oct. 23 to Nov. 12 in Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), Bangkok, Seoul, Taipei (Taiwan), Manila and Bombay. 

Tickets cost VND300,000, VND600,000 and VND800,000 and are available at  the Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien Street., Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, or at TMV’s Hanoi branch, eighth floor, Viglacera building, No,1 Thang Long Avenue, Me Tri, Tu Liem, Hanoi.