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- World-famous conductor Lior Shambadal made this statement in an interview
with VOV before the opening of “Bitexco Concert” at the Hanoi Opera House on May 24.

The concert was joined by Vietnamese violinist Bui Cong Duy
and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra.

Born in Israel,
Lior Shambadal has become a Chief Conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra
(Berliner Symphoniker) since 1997.

Maestro Shambadal has led more than 150 concerts at the
famed Berlin Philharmonie as well as many open-air concerts at the
Gendarmenmarkt and the Kulturbrauerei.

He has also conducted the orchestra in hundreds of
performances during his trips to Japan,
China, the Republic of Korea,
Italy, Spain, Ireland,
England, France, and Germany. In 2009, he was named
Music Director of the Orchestre Filarmonica de Bogota (OFB), Colombia, with whom he visited China and Italy in 2009 and 2010.

Why did you agree to
perform in Vietnam?

It’s not the first time I’ve come to Vietnam. I came
here many times before and visited Ho Chi Minh City,
Hue city and Ha Long
Bay.

Kiet, a friend of mine had advised me to go to Vietnam to see many interesting things, and this
is true-I find Vietnam
more special than many other countries in the world. Vietnam is so special.

I’ve long planned on performing in Vietnam. This
time I have a tight schedule in Vietnam,
I must travel and work a lot. Fortunately, my co-worker, talented violinist Bui
Cong Duy, has prepared thoughtfully. My recent performance in HCM City
attracted many audiences.

What has most
impressed you in Vietnam?

Traffic in Vietnam
and friendly people, living wholeheartedly for friends (smiling).

How’d you feel before
performing?

I’ll dedicate with all my heart to the performance. In
preparation for the performance, Vietnamese artists and I have worked hard.
Most of the artists in the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra are both young
and talented and I like to work with them.

They spend much time with me and I share experiences with
them. With all-out efforts, we believe the concert will be a success.

How about your
co-worker, violist Bui Cong Duy?

He is a good driver and knows many restaurants with tasty
dishes. I’m fond of spring rolls and fried fish. He’s really a good friend. We
find common in music and soul, therefore, only after a few days, have we felt
so familiar to each other as if we were long-time friends. I really want to
invite him to Germany
for a concert in the near future.

What d’you think
about Vietnamese music?

I’ve listened to a lot of Vietnamese music such as
traditional, popular and live music. The relations between language and music
are actually interesting, however, Vietnamese music is quite different from
what I’ve ever heard.

I realise that Vietnamese music now trends to westernization
that sounds good. I’ve listened to “Returning to the motherland” composed by
Nguyen Van Thuong, which is performed by a female artist, and I’ve found it
emotional. Listening to the recording, I imaged profoundly, but when I came to
the village where he had found inspiration for such a piece of music, I felt
much emotional.

What about your plan
in the future?

Lior Shambadal: First of all, I will invite violinist Bui
Cong Duy to perform in Germany.
Then, I’ll have a performance tour of China
and France.

Source: VOV