The program took place on the evening of 15/8 at the National Convention Center in Hanoi. It was part of a series of activities commemorating the musician's 10th death anniversary, organized by his daughter, journalist Bach Duong. Over three hours, the team painted a portrait of Thanh Tung through compositions that have resonated with many generations.
Thanh Tung's music is characterized by its sadness, yet without being tragic, a quality noted by those who worked with him. These melodies do not push listeners into despair but rather evoke a desire for love, closeness to nature, and an appreciation for simple things. A spring, a drop of sunlight, a leaf in the yard, or a guitar could all become cherished memories through his music. Nearly 20 performances were divided into chapters, interspersed with documentaries and interviews, guiding the audience through various emotional layers.
The concert opened with the instrumental piece "Love Without Borders", creating a solemn atmosphere before gradually bringing the audience back to familiar melodies. My Linh performed "Spring's Confession" and "The Old Path We Return To" with gentle grace. Tung Duong reinterpreted "The Sleepless Heart" – a song once associated with the duet My Linh and Bang Kieu – with an energetic vocal style.
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Singer My Linh. Photo: Organizers provided |
In the latter part of the concert, Tung Duong continued with "Alone" and "Yellow Chrysanthemum", compositions Thanh Tung wrote about his late wife, who passed away many years before him. After her passing, despite being admired by many, the musician did not remarry. Through Tung Duong's voice, the emotional gaps in the songs were clearly amplified, highlighting a sense of solitude without despair. Le Quyen delivered "Sun Drop on the Porch" and "You and I" with a restrained vocal style, fitting the intimate nature of Thanh Tung's music.
Thanh Lam, who was close to the musician for many years and called him "teacher", made her mark with "Purple flowers in the yard" and "Lonely Star". The performance of "Old Tale of Nghi Tam" revealed a different Thanh Tung, subtle in his approach to folk influences. This was also his final composition, rich in structure and color. With the dan nguyet (moon lute) and chau drums, Thanh Lam transported the audience into an ancient, theatrical space.
The program dedicated significant space to the symphony orchestra and Thanh Tung's instrumental works. "Wild Heart", "Monsoon Rain", "The Turned Card", "Counting Leaves in the Yard", and "If I Die, Bury Me With My Guitar" were performed as instrumental pieces. Through the arrangements by musician Tran Manh Hung and conducted by maestro Marc Ramirez, the familiar melodies emerged with many layers, allowing the audience to better appreciate a Thanh Tung who was not only excellent at writing love songs but also a composer with sophisticated harmony and orchestration.
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Singer Le Quyen during the performance. Photo: Organizers provided |
"Dewdrop on Eyelids", performed by My Linh and her daughter My Anh, was one of the emotionally rich highlights in the final section. Two generations singing together in a Thanh Tung composition symbolized a continuation, showing that the vitality of melodies created decades ago can still touch young people today.
The music night concluded with "Singing with the Little Cicada", performed by My Anh and a children's choir. After the melancholic moments, the performance brought an innocent, bright color.
Close to 23h, over 3,000 audience members remained, listening to the words of gratitude from the musician's daughter, journalist Bach Duong. MC Nguyen Huu Chien Thang read the concluding remarks: "Thanh Tung had the ability to transform wounds, losses, and loneliness into a common language of love. After many years, his music remains youthful, captivating audiences. This is because he transformed his personal emotions into everyone's love".
Ha Thu
