Violinist Bui Cong Duy

The RoK-Vietnam Friendship Classic Concert was organised by ACEF Korean Cultural Centre in Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera to assist residents of the central provinces who were affected by the recent typhoons.

Other acts included the duet, Dao Nhat Quang and Soprano Cho Hye-ryong, who sang an extract from “Romeo and Juliet.”

In the first half of the show, Bui Cong Duy, who trained as a musician in Russia, with the Ho Chi Minh City Symphony Orchestra, took several curtain-calls for a performance of Concerto in G Minor “Summer” for violin and String Orchestra.

A Korean Fold Song Medley played by a troupe of Korean saxophonists followed.

In the second half, Pianist Kim Ji-eun and the orchestra performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1in B-flat Minor, Op. 23 conducted by Tran Vuong Thach. The artist had to thanks the audience many times for their appreciation.

Ok Duk, head of the centre, said it was the first programme since he had taken the position two months ago, adding that it would assist victims of the recent typhoons and build friendship between the two countries.

The third director of the centre, whose three older brothers had served as peace volunteers during the American War, said he had first intended to come to Vietnam fifteen years ago

“My hope is to help the RoK community in Vietnam build a friendly cultural environment here. My greatest wish is to join hands with every body to help disadvantaged people, but to do that we need the support of the public.”

Fifty RoK companies in Vietnam sponsored the charity event with all money going to Vietnam Fatherland Front. The Korean Cultural Centre in Ho Chi Minh City will soon cooperate with the city’s people’s committee to assist typhoon victims in the centre.