Two musical concerts evoking the history of ${bigcity_Hanoi:"Hanoi"} will make its appearance on stage one hundred days before the city’s millennial anniversary in October. The first of the two, named the “Day song Hong – song Cai”, centers its story on the Red River, of which, is written for violin and the symphony orchestra and is comprised of three chapters. The first chapter, themed “The reflected imperial city”, describes the image of the Red River as a mirror reflecting the whole social life of the former Thang Long and the current Hanoi city throughout its 1,000-year long history.

The second chapter is called the “Sparkling the red alluvial wave”. Its theme surrounds on the typical color of the river, which is metaphorically said to be caused by alluvium and the blood of fallen soldiers who fought for the city. The last chapter is a passionate dedication to the river itself, which, for the past centuries, have continued to flow gracefully for the capital city. The other concert is called the “Khong chi la huyen thoai” (or “It is not a mere legend”) and is a five-chapter symphony, of which, the first features King Ly Thai To’s order in 1010 to move the capital from Ninh Binh Province to Hanoi and name it Thang Long. The second chapter is about Hanoians in general while the third emphasizes on the people’s struggles against foreign invaders, poverty and illiteracy.

In the fourth chapter, the cultural and literary achievements of the capital is highlighted while the fifth centers on the achievements of the country as a whole. But in entirety, the second concerto tells of the process of establishing the capital city of King Ly Cong Uan at the Dai La citadel. Both concertos will be performed by the Japanese-American conductor, Shuichi Komiyama, along with hundreds of artists from the symphony orchestra of the National Music Academy.

The concerts were the work of Vinh Cat. According to the talented composer and musician, he added the sounds of traditional festival gongs from the Central Highlands and ‘Dan Day’ (a plucked lute with three strings) to the work when he conceptualized the presentations. He said that it took him nearly two years (from January 2008 to December 2009) to complete the symphonies which he considers as his gift to the capital city for its millennial anniversary. Though Cat said how these are the first concerts he composed directly about Hanoi, these may also his lasts as he had been composing since 1959. In fact, Cat is one of Vietnam’s first concerto composers.

He is famous for composing “Picking flowers for the Uncle” - the alleged first symphony of Vietnam written to honor President Ho Chi Minh. He is also co-author of many projects and works on preservation and promotion of Hanoi’s cultural relics. The celebrations for Hanoi’s millennial anniversary will run for ten days - - - which will start on the 1st of October and will end on the main festival day on the 10th. As the entire celebration is packed with fun-filled activities, entertainment and attractions, the musical concerts is a grand way to jumpstart the most looked-forward to event.