The Saigon Times Concert, which took place last Saturday night on the occasion of Thoi bao Kinh te Sai Gon’s 20th anniversary, is a joyous melody of liberty and love
It was indeed a pleasure to immerse oneself in the mellifluous melody of Passacalia & Burleske by Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich, performed by a soulful Ukrainian artist and a mesmerizing Vietnamese string orchestra under the guidance of American conductor Dean Khomik Anderson.
Amidst an intriguing and enigmatic veil of mist, the sound of Mira Khomik’s violin, which soared, tumbled and then poured into emotional waves in harmony with the artists’ deepest feelings, led the audience into Shostakovich’s tragic world. As the string orchestra’s artistic floodgates burst, the gloomy atmosphere evaporated and the boundless universe beckoned, filling everyone with the warmth of dawn. Passacalia & Burleske encapsulated Shostakovich’s journey as an artist, depicting his feelings about the vicissitudes of history. As the Government’s and his fellow composers’ vehement objections to his view of humanity pushed him into a corner, Shostakovich could turn his predicament into an overwhelming piece of music that touches the depth of human suffering and wrath in the face of devastating wars in this modern age. By virtue of her sensitivity, Mira Khomik successfully translated the agonizing, piercing and occasionally raucous sounds that once reverberated within a hapless soul, marginalized in his very country, into a hymn on life, a snapshot of history, and a work of art laden with passion for mankind and liberty. In her scarlet red, the golden-haired violinist instilled within the audience such beautiful emotions.
Antonin Dvorak’s From the New World was also a masterpiece on love for life. Composed in 1893, when African and American music started to mingle and new social trends started to emerge, the piece was the first to be heard on the moon. Conductor Dean Khomik Anderson and over 50 musicians, brimming with concentration and emotions, managed to capture the slightest sounds of the soul. Tribal drum beats and melodies from the string orchestra intertwined, reminding the more discerned members of the audience of the sound of rain falling and wind blowing. For a brief moment, petty concerns of daily life seemed to fade away, the audience’s soul turned mellow, memories of childhood and maternal embrace flashed back and beauty pervaded the auditorium. As everyone burst into applause after 40 minutes of quiet, attentive listening, an atmosphere rarely experienced at classical concerts in town pervaded the hall. Dean Khomik Anderson was clearly aware of everyone’s needs and could find the most wonderful way to touch the audience’s most profound emotions.
Whereas Dean Khomik Anderson and Mira Khomik enthralled everyone with a Western approach to music, tempered by multicultural influence, Tu Shan Xiang, a pipa maestro who has captivated many music lovers around the world, was emblematic of the charming, mysterious East, where diverse musical cultures thrive and blend into each other. Vietnam Sketch, one of his pieces, was replete with musical layers unique to Vietnam — heart-rending, simple and poetic. Through Tu Shan Xiang’s dazzling music, Vietnam emerged in all its dreamy resplendence and abounded in rustic, colorful sounds. Unlike in his debut in Vietnam, in the Saigon Times Group’s Harmony of Trust 1 Concert, Tu Shan Xiang calmly straddled across different musical realms this time around, weaving together visceral and soothing tunes that culminated in unbridled joy. In his traditional white outfit, he infused the piece with his tranquil soul, utter pleasure and an indescribably festive mood.
A highlight of the concert was Mira Khomik’s and Tu Shan Xiang’s partnership in Czardas by V. Monti, a light-hearted piece of Hungarian folk music. Originally prepared for the violin and the piano, this work of art was livened up with a new twist courtesy of the two gifted artists. Filled with happiness, Tu Shan Xiang decided to show his appreciation to the audience by means of a pipa solo performance that soaked the concert hall in a serene atmosphere.
The vision of a borderless world where love flourishes and music soars was precisely what the Saigon Times Group hoped to convey. The concert’s message revolved around trust, love and other cherished values of humanity. By endeavoring to preserve and popularize classical music, the media group wished to express its gratitude and ideals on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.
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