| Every Concordia Foundation performance is a success so it is hard to highlight individual events or activities. But some stand out in the memories of those who took part or were in the audience, including: | |
Our successes
| The Story of Vietnam | |
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"I will never forget the feeling of pride, particularly by the set builders who had worked night and day to recreate a Sicilian village in the middle of Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. This was one of the moments when those of us who had worked to bring this project to fruition knew that it really had all been worth while." |
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The Concordia Foundation performed Cavalleria Rusticana at the refurbished Ho Chi Minh City Opera House on 1 June 2000, with the Ho Chi Minh City International Choir and the Saigon Concert Orchestra, conducted by Graham Sutcliffe.
Gillian first visited Ho Chi Minh City whilst producing opera and musical theatre performances with her theatre company aboard the Royal Viking Sun. Hearing about the young talented musicians studying at the Conservatory, Gillian, on her second visit, gave a masterclass in association with Graham Sutcliffe, the local representative of the British Council. Gillian was also shown the newly refurbished Saigon Opera House and pledged to return - with the first western style opera production in 25 years - to mark the millennium by building a cultural bridge between east and west. Judicious behind-the-scenes lobbying by Graham Sutcliffe and Gillian, sponsorship from the Italian Business Association, Saigon Concert and flights donated by Alitalia, meant a production was possible. The principal singers rehearsed in London, local Vietnamese craftsmen built the set and made the costumes. Following two weeks of rehearsals, Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana had its first performance on 1st June 2000 with an orchestra of 70 Vietnamese musicians, the International Choir of Ho Chi Minh City and British and Vietnamese soloists. The evening was introduced by the Italian Ambassador, the Vietnamese Head of Culture and Gillian - and the whole performance was televised.Having opened up new avenues for talented young musicians in Vietnam, a reciprocal invitation was extended by the Concordia Foundation to two Vietnamese singers to visit England and attend the Canford Summer School to study opera. It was arranged for them to attend opera performances and workshops and to be assessed by London colleges. |
"I do think our first concert in the Concordia Concerto Series was a huge success and has drawn a lot of attention to the VNSO , Concordia and young artists from Europe. I think the orchestra, as well as the public was hugely impressed by the professionalism of Cliodna' s performance in what was actually a very difficult and challenging piece. To have such a success from a 17 year old made the whole event even more special. People are still talking about Concordia, Ciiodna, The Menuhin School and VNSO's new initiative. I have also received many messages of congratulation on the concert as a whole. People really enjoyed Peter and the Wolf and having you, as the official Concordia founder/representative was extremely meaningful. Vietnam is in the process of change. The Vietnamese public is beginning to enjoy classical music and people are willing to spend time and money to be involved in these cultural activities which take place now on an ever increasingly regular basis. To have a foreign organisation like Concordia take the VNSO seriously by providing soloists of such caliber is hugely important and is making a visible difference to the way the orchestra is approaching its work and is thus helping to raise the standard of music in Vietnam. I think it is true to say that this project is already contributing significantly to the training of the National Orchestra of Vietnam, as well as fostering cultural relations between nations. The fact that the national carrier, Air Vietnam is -sponsoring the next flight (a rare gesture towards a non-Vietnamese artist) is hugely significant and shows how much the project is already gaining in stature and being valued at the highest levels. I do hope these are the first of many concerts, which can only benefit all those concerned, as well as truly building bridges between such different cultures." Graham Sutciffe |
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