Conductor Le Phi Phi and his unexpected reunion with People’s Artist Tra Giang’s daughter

– Is the general director and orchestra conductor of a program of both artistic and historical significance such as ‘Dien Bien Phu – Never Forget’ taking place on May 2 and 3 at Hoan Kiem Lake Theater. Is that a challenge for you, conductor Le Phi Phi?

This is not the first time I have made a program of such magnitude, nature, theme… so it is not a new challenge. Furthermore, on this occasion, the organizing committee, Hoan Kiem Lake Theater in conjunction with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Music and Dance Theater, the Music and Dance Theater of the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ceremonial Troupe of the Ministry of Public Security conducted a methodical, thoughtful, and professional, my professional work also becomes somewhat lighter.

Both my sisters and I were invited to collaborate directly with Hoan Kiem Lake Theater

– On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, there are many programs staged for the audience, so what do you think is different about ‘Dien Bien Phu – Never Forget’?

Dien Bien Phu – Never forget is an academic choir symphony program that is professional and highly artistic in terms of content as well as participating units as I mentioned above with nearly 300 artists, so it is very majestic. The two concerts took place at Hoan Kiem Lake Theater, a modern theater that is suitable for this art form in every aspect, so it will increase the quality of the night.

– You have directed many big programs, both in Vietnam and abroad, but ‘Dien Bien Phu – Never Forget’ is a rare program written by your sister. Why does this combination exist when most of the time the two sisters live in two different countries? Are there any details in Dr. Le Y Linh’s script that you had to discuss, even leading to controversy during the production process?

Hearing the word “controversy” seems so stressful! Fortunately, with this program, both of my sisters and I were invited to collaborate directly with Hoan Kiem Lake Theater. In the 4.0 era, geographical distance is not a problem. From the beginning, we had an online meeting to discuss the program idea. After reaching agreement, we established a steering committee and general advisory board including representatives of participating units. We have been exchanging messages, emails, and online meetings for the past 3-4 months and are continuing until the two shows.

– ‘Dien Bien Phu – Never Forget’ brings together a large crew with the participation of many artists, singers and orchestras as well as theaters. Directing a massive show with nearly 300 artists and actors participating, which part do you think is the most difficult?

To carry out a program of such magnitude, the rehearsal process with the actors is the most difficult and tiring. I would just like to talk about the aspect of music and art. 2 months ago we sent the songs to the singers, soloists, choir and ceremonial trumpet orchestra so they could start practicing before I returned home.

Because the program is choral-symphonic in nature, most of the works involve the choir with the orchestra. When I returned home, the group practiced for 2 weeks continuously, both morning and afternoon. I shuttled between training sessions to many locations of different units. Until today, everything is going relatively well and we are perfecting and refining each work.

It was I who nominated artist Bich Tra to return home to participate in the program

– It’s been a long time since Hanoi audiences have been able to enjoy the sound of pianist Nguyen Bich Tra – daughter of People’s Artist Tra Giang. Are you the one who convinced Bich Tra to return home to perform in this special program or someone else because for many years the female artist has lived abroad and rarely plays music on the Vietnamese stage?

I was the one who recommended to the program advisory board to invite artist Bich Tra to return home to participate in the program. Bich Tra (daughter of People’s Artist Tra Giang – Reporter) has often returned to Vietnam to perform in recent years, but mainly in Ho Chi Minh City because before going to study abroad, Bich Tra’s family moved there.

I studied at the same Tchaikovsky Conservatory as Bich Tra. She has performed many times with me over the years on stage in Ho Chi Minh City. Besides Bich Tra, I know that many Vietnamese artists abroad are regularly invited to return home to perform because of our open policy, combining domestic and foreign artists.

– I’m curious to know which works were chosen to perform in ‘Dien Bien Phu – Never Forget’ and what specific criteria must be met to fit the theme and scope of the program? His father, the late musician Hoang Van, had a famous composition called ‘Hoi Hoi Hoai’ full of spirit and was born during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. So will this work be selected and who will perform it?

Regarding the content and ideas of the program, I will give my words to my sister, Doctor of Music Le Y Linh, because she is the one who came up with the idea as well as wrote the script. Firecracker cheering and a four-movement choral symphony Dien Bien Phu will be heard along with many other unique works with a new arrangement style. It’s so touching and proud to hear and arrange my father’s beautiful, lyrical, heroic melodies again!

– When will your foreign wife and son return to Vietnam to visit relatives? How often does your wife encourage or support your frequent return to Vietnam?

My small family still regularly visits my grandparents, hometown, relatives, friends… every year until before Covid-19. Recently, because every time I returned to Vietnam I had to work in conjunction with directing programs, she and I could not return together so I could focus on work. Whenever we have free time, we go home together. Vietnam is my homeland, the first destination when my family arranges vacation plans.

Conductor Le Phi Phi conducts the piece ‘Long live Vietnam’ at the Dieu Con Mai concert

Quynh An

Conductor Le Phi Phi: A luxury collector’s hobby because Vietnamese people follow the trendAppearing in the upcoming concert program No. 146, conductor Le Phi Phi shares with VietNamNet about his great love for academic music.