French opera to be played for first time in over a century
“Frédégonde”, an opera created by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, will be played for the first time since it debuted in 1895, with Vietnam the venue for this historic performance.
A poster of the opera “Frédégonde”, which will be played at HCM City's Municipal Theatre on October 20 and 21 (Photo: tkbvn-tokyo.s3.amazonaws.com)
HCM City (VNA) – “Frédégonde”,an opera created by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, will be played for thefirst time since it debuted in 1895, with Vietnam the venue for this historicperformance.
French Consul General to Ho Chi Minh CityVincent Floreani said at a press conference on October 12 that the operaperformance by the city’s Municipal Theatre on October 20 and 21 is an importantcultural event for France and Vietnam.
“Frédégonde” is also the only French operacreated in Vietnam, adding further to the significance of the decision toperform it in the country.
Tran Vuong Thach, Director of the HCM CityBallet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO), said Camille Saint-Saëns visitedCon Dao Island and Saigon (now HCM City) in 1895.
Thach cited researcher Tim Doling as saying thatwhile the French artist was in Con Dao, he completed the opera “Brunhilde”,which had been left unfinished by deceased composer Ernest Guiraud, and renamedit “Frédégonde”.
With the pre-Medieval period the background, theopera is about Frédégonde, who is a servant at first but then becomes a richand powerful queen, leading to severe power conflicts.
Influenced by Asian culture in Con Dao, localidentities can also been seen in the play through the use of traditionalinstruments like gongs and wooden clarinets.
The opera will be played by French and HBSOartists along with conductor Patrick Souillot and director CarolineBlanpied.-VNA
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A poster of the opera “Frédégonde”, which will be played at HCM City's Municipal Theatre on October 20 and 21 (Photo: tkbvn-tokyo.s3.amazonaws.com) 
