The Que Huong Choir not only brought its distinctive musical colors to the event but also contributed to promoting Vietnamese culture to international friends.
The festival is held annually around mid-March and lasts from three to four days. After more than two decades of formation and development, it has become a meeting point for choirs from across continents. Rather than a competition, the festival focuses on cultural and artistic exchange, providing opportunities for artists to meet, share experiences, and express their passion for choral music.
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Que Huong (Homeland) Choir performs at the 28th International Choir Festival of Paris at Saint Roch Cathedral. |
Participating choirs included those of children, youth and adults, ranging from amateur to professional ones. The diversity of nationalities and musical styles turned the festival into a vibrant cultural crossroads, where audiences enjoyed a wide range of genres, from sacred music, classical choral works, Renaissance and Baroque pieces to contemporary compositions, folk songs and world music.
At the 28th edition of the festival, which ended on March 15, the Vietnamese delegation left a memorable impression as the Que Huong Choir was invited to perform as the second act of the program. This prominent position reflected the organizers’ recognition of the artistic quality and reputation of the Vietnamese choir.
The choir presented two Vietnamese-language choral works: Tinh ca (Love Song) by Pham Duy and Nhac rung (Forest Melody) by Hoang Viet. The melodies, imbued with Vietnamese musical identity, resonated in the solemn atmosphere of the historic church, offering international audiences a fresh and emotional musical experience.
Nguyen Ngan Ha, founder and member of the Que Huong Choir, said the festival has been held in Paris for many years with the aim of introducing choral cultures from countries around the world. The choir has participated in the festival four times, each time presenting works representing different periods of Vietnamese choral music, from revolutionary songs to modern compositions.
“We are very proud to have the opportunity to stand on an international stage to introduce Vietnamese music,” Ha said.
Prior to joining the festival’s main program, the choir also performed at the Vietnam Cultural Centre in France, helping promote Vietnamese culture to the international community in Paris. It is scheduled to continue taking part in other performances as part of its upcoming tour in Chartres.
Source: VNA