Children book-adapted musical to premiere in HCM City
The Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will for the first time staged the musical ‘Diary of a Cricket’, which is based on one of the best-known Vietnamese children’s books by late writer To Hoai, at the city’s Opera House on December 29.
Poster of the musical ‘Diary of a Cricket’ (Photo: HBSO)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera(HBSO) will for the first time staged the musical ‘Diary of a Cricket’, whichis based on one of the best-known Vietnamese children’s books by late writer ToHoai, at the city’s Opera House on December 29.
Publishedin 1941, the children book ‘De men phieu luu ky’ (Diary of a Cricket) is aboutthe adventures of a cricket that leaves his hole to travel and discover theworld. He learns new things and grows through encounters with various insectsand animals.
Veterancomposer Vu Viet Anh, who was musically trained in New Zealand, and conductorTran Nhat Minh, a graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, prepared themusical for years. They wrote the Vietnamese script together, with Anh being incharge of the play’s music and libretto.
Anh is popular among local music fans for popsongs like “Dong Song Lo Dang (Wandering River) and “Dem Nam MoPho” (Dreaming of Town).
He is known for his instrumental works,including Spring Prayer Suite for orchestra and choir, “Vo DeCam” (Untitled Instrument), “Truong Son Suite”, and “ChanTroi” (Horizon), which were highly regarded by critics and audiences.
Minhwill lead the upcoming performance, featuring tenor Dao Mac as the cricket –the main character.
TheHBSO said the musical was wrote in Broadway theatre style, which combinestraditional theatre art and modern visual art as well as different musicalgenres, including Pop, Rock, and Jazz.-VNA
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Poster of the musical ‘Diary of a Cricket’ (Photo: HBSO) 
