Viet Nam National Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Frederick Chopin's 200th birthday at the Ha Noi Opera House tonight with a performance of the Polish composer's Concerto for Piano No 1, Opus 11 by soloist Luu Hong Quang, 20.

The concerto for piano was written in 1830 and first performed in Warsaw on October 11 of that year by the composer himself during one of his numerous "farewell" concerts. The concerto – in three movements – is scored for solo piano with flutes, oboes and clarinets.

Chopin (1810-1849), one of the great masters of Romantic music, was born in Zelazowa Wola, a village in the Duchy of Warsaw. A renowned child-prodigy pianist and composer, he grew up in Warsaw and completed his musical education there.

All of Chopin's works involve the piano. They are technically demanding but emphasise nuance and expressive depth. He invented the musical form known as the instrumental ballad and made major innovations to the piano sonata, mazurka and waltz.

Japanese conductor Tetsuji Honna will run the show which will also feature Symphony No 6, op 74 by Tchaikovsky in the second half. The concert will kick off at 8pm tonight and tomorrow.

(VNS)