Talented Vietnamese violinist Do Phuong Nhi is set to take part in a number of concerts throughout the country on July 7-16.The concerts will feature music composed by Georges Bizet, Charles-Camille Saint-Saens and Johann Strauss II, performed under the baton of Japanese conductor Tetsuji Honna by the Viet Nam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO).

Nhi was born in 1998 into a musical family, both her parents are violinists. She began studying the violin under veteran artist Ngo Van Thanh when she was only four years old. At the age of 11, Nhi made her solo debut, playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the VNSO and conductor Tetsuji at the Ha Noi Opera House. In 2010, she received a grant from the MIC-Transposition in order to attend master classes at the Barratt-Due Institute of Music in Oslo where she is currently a student under Stephan Barratt-Due as well as Sigyn Fossness and Alf Richard Kraggerud.

Nhi is at present considered to be the youngest talented violinist in Viet Nam. Her performances are even broadcast on Viet Nam Television. Every summer, Nhi is honourably invited to attend the Summer Valdres and Hardanger festivals in Norway alongside with many other talented European musicians.

"Nhi holds a very strong power inside her. I've known her for 10 years and I'm certain that her talent will shine through during the Toyota Concert Tour Viet Nam 2011," conductor Tetsuji said.

Nhi, who said that she would do her best in entertaining the classic music lovers of Viet Nam, is set to perform the Introduction and Rondo capriccioso Op.28 by Saint-Saens, accompanied by the VNSO. "The piece is quite difficult for a 13-year-old violinist seeing as it's so romantic at times," said Le Hoang Lan, violin master of the VNSO, who added that the piece was made deliberately challenging, a testimony to a mature technique.

Tetsuji has conducted numerous orchestras including the Hungarian State Philharmonic, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra. He is also a regular guest of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra in Ljubljana with which he has recorded several CDs. Tetsuji has been the music advisor and conductor of the VNSO since 2001, leading it on a successful tour to Tokyo and Osaka in 2004.

Since its establishment in 1959, the VNSO has made a lot of effort in enhancing its image as a professional orchestra, inviting conductors from a number of countries to lead it and giving joint concerts with many world-class soloists.

The Toyota Concert Tour Viet Nam 2011, including performances in Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Hue and HCM City, promises to provide classical music lovers throughout the country with fantastic music, said Dang Phan Thu Huong, vice chairman of the Toyota Viet Nam Foundation. "Since 2009, besides its artistic contribution, all ticket proceeds have been used for the Toyota Scholarship, aimed at encouraging the development of young Vietnamese music talent," said Huong.

This year, the concert will include students tickets, aimed at exposing the youth to the delights of classical music.

(VNS)