When music blends with fine arts

For nearly two years, at the end of each month, art lovers have eagerly awaited the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum’s announcement of the performance schedule and participating artists for the regular concert series "When Music Blends with Fine Arts." Additionally, every three months, a major concert themed on the four seasons' melodies has taken place in the museum's garden.

This initiative aims to show appreciation to visitors, enhance communication, spread the museum's image, attract attention, and improve the experience for visitors. Although tickets are not sold, each concert has been meticulously and professionally organised, with rich content and the participation of famous faces, from veteran artists of the Vietnam National Academy of Music to prominent "GenZ" artists. Therefore, each performance has attracted large domestic and international audiences alike, creating a strong effect on social media platforms.

The concert series at the museum are considered a successful direction for the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum as it has created opportunities for the public to access two pinnacle art forms: symphonic music, and fine arts. In addition to immortal international music pieces, Vietnamese musical works have been also selected and performed for special events, evoking pride.

In April, the fourth edition of the "When Music Blends with Fine Arts" concert in 2024 was held in an exhibition space displaying 70 paintings and sculptures about the Dien Bien Phu Campaign as part of activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory (1954-2024). The event introduced viewers to many touching and proud Vietnamese songs such as: "National Anthem," "My Village," "As if Uncle Ho were with us on Victory Day", "Onward," "Jungle Music," "The Country's Full Joy," "Voluntarily," and "Small Spring". The artists performed various musical instruments, providing visitors with an immersive auditory and visual art experience.

Previously, at the end of March, the "Spring Melodies" concert was an impressive performance by the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra, with the participation of conductor Nguyen Khac Thanh and soprano Bao Yen. Excerpts and adaptations from world classic operas were introduced to the audience in a fresh way.

Amidst the ancient and artistic space of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, the combination of musical instruments and vocals created a sophisticated and approachable art experience. Having attended and highly appreciated the concerts at the museum, Assoc.Prof., Dr. Bui Hoai Son, Permanent Member of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education, said: "The outdoor concert at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum was truly impressive, not only because of the orchestra's top-notch quality with classic world music pieces combined with familiar Vietnamese songs, but more importantly, the concert's significance helped us understand more about the relationship between art and life, and the importance of public art education."

In many countries with a long tradition of music and fine arts, organising art performances in museum spaces, particularly concerts, has long been popular. These events have become cultural activities that attract both domestic and international tourists. This practice brings numerous benefits, enriching the spiritual lives of the people, introducing and honouring artists, building the brand of artistic institutions, and promoting tourism.

In recent years, besides the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, several other museums in Vietnam have also organised classical music concerts, such as the Southern Women's Museum, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History, and the World Coffee Museum in Dak Lak Province. This initiative aligns with the trend of modern museums and the development spirit of the cultural and creative industries.

According to Dr. Nguyen Anh Minh, Director of the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, the harmonious integration of music with visual arts is a specific approach to diversifying museum activities, bringing them closer to the public, and fulfilling their functions and missions. Notably, the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts used to primarily attract foreign visitors or specialists in research, artists, and photographers. However, recently, with 150,000 visitors annually, there has been a rapid increase in domestic visitors, particularly among young people.

Dr. Nguyen Anh Minh also mentioned that the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts plans to continue researching and expanding its activities to clearly position itself as a prominent artistic destination in the capital. It aims to introduce new models such as night tours, classical concerts, and light shows.

Continuing the series of seasonal concerts, the "Summer Melodies" programme took place in the courtyard of the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, featuring the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra, conductor Nguyen Khac Thanh and soprano singer Do Vu Lan Nhung. The free concert introduced many compositions by renowned composers and received great interest and appreciation from the audience.