Hungarian music lovers have fallen in love with a video clip of aVietnamese opera student singing a traditional Hungarian song.
Afterrecording the song in his shirt emblazoned with Vietnam's nationalflag, Ninh Duc Hoang Long uploaded it on YouTube. He woke up in themorning amazed that his effort had attracted heaps of viewers.
Severaldays later, television and newspaper reporters contacted him forinterviews. Long's popularity spread even further when they describedhim as a newly discovered internet star.
Long was born in 1991 inthe northern province of Ninh Binh. No one in his family had pursued amusical career, but he dreamed of being an opera singer since when hewas young. Once he had a chance to enjoy a performance by LucianoPavarotti (1935-2007), the Italian tenor. He immediately decided tostudy opera like his idol.
After two years studying at theVietnam National Conservatory of Music, last year Long received ascholarship to study music in Hungary. He was the only foreign studentwho passed the entrance exam to study opera at the Franz Liszt Academyof Music in Budapest.
Long's teachers suggested Long sing at auniversity meeting. He decided to perform Hazam Hazam (My Country), anextract from a opera titled Bank Ban. "This is a very familiar patrioticsong in Hungary," Long said. "All Hungarians know it."
Despite its popularity, not many can sing it well, because it requires operatic techniques.
"ManyHungarian journalists and YouTube users told me that singers, includingforeigners, had performed the song, but only two had the power to movepeople - one is an Hungarian singer, the other is myself," Long said.
Longspent two months practicing the song to prepare for the entrance examto his university. It made him proud when the jury applauded hisperformance - the only one to be so honoured.
That's the reason why he was confident enough to perform the song once again in front of friends and teachers.
Oneleading Hungarian e-newspaper, index.hu, praised Long as "a newlydiscovered star on internet, a Vietnamese boy singing Hazam Hazam sowell it makes your flesh tingle," he wrote.
A reader ofnewspaper, Zsanett Zsefy, said Long had a fantastic, beautiful andbrilliant voice. "He performs the song with ease and moves theaudience," he said.
Suddenly becoming famous, Long firstly felt surprised. Now he's so happy and proud that he helps people know more about Vietnam.
"Noweveryone knows Vietnam's national colours," he said. "And the name ofthe country is in most Hungarian newspapers. Many people told me thatthey now want to travel to Vietnam some day."
Although the song is about Hungary and its people's patriotism, Long always thinks of Vietnam and his homeland while singing.
"Livingfar from home, I often feel nostalgic," he said. "Recently, I listenedto the news of China's intrusion into Vietnam's sea territory and becameindignant.
"I send my love and nostalgia for my country throughthe song. Probably, that's the reason why I can touch an audience'shearts."-VNA
Afterrecording the song in his shirt emblazoned with Vietnam's nationalflag, Ninh Duc Hoang Long uploaded it on YouTube. He woke up in themorning amazed that his effort had attracted heaps of viewers.
Severaldays later, television and newspaper reporters contacted him forinterviews. Long's popularity spread even further when they describedhim as a newly discovered internet star.
Long was born in 1991 inthe northern province of Ninh Binh. No one in his family had pursued amusical career, but he dreamed of being an opera singer since when hewas young. Once he had a chance to enjoy a performance by LucianoPavarotti (1935-2007), the Italian tenor. He immediately decided tostudy opera like his idol.
After two years studying at theVietnam National Conservatory of Music, last year Long received ascholarship to study music in Hungary. He was the only foreign studentwho passed the entrance exam to study opera at the Franz Liszt Academyof Music in Budapest.
Long's teachers suggested Long sing at auniversity meeting. He decided to perform Hazam Hazam (My Country), anextract from a opera titled Bank Ban. "This is a very familiar patrioticsong in Hungary," Long said. "All Hungarians know it."
Despite its popularity, not many can sing it well, because it requires operatic techniques.
"ManyHungarian journalists and YouTube users told me that singers, includingforeigners, had performed the song, but only two had the power to movepeople - one is an Hungarian singer, the other is myself," Long said.
Longspent two months practicing the song to prepare for the entrance examto his university. It made him proud when the jury applauded hisperformance - the only one to be so honoured.
That's the reason why he was confident enough to perform the song once again in front of friends and teachers.
Oneleading Hungarian e-newspaper, index.hu, praised Long as "a newlydiscovered star on internet, a Vietnamese boy singing Hazam Hazam sowell it makes your flesh tingle," he wrote.
A reader ofnewspaper, Zsanett Zsefy, said Long had a fantastic, beautiful andbrilliant voice. "He performs the song with ease and moves theaudience," he said.
Suddenly becoming famous, Long firstly felt surprised. Now he's so happy and proud that he helps people know more about Vietnam.
"Noweveryone knows Vietnam's national colours," he said. "And the name ofthe country is in most Hungarian newspapers. Many people told me thatthey now want to travel to Vietnam some day."
Although the song is about Hungary and its people's patriotism, Long always thinks of Vietnam and his homeland while singing.
"Livingfar from home, I often feel nostalgic," he said. "Recently, I listenedto the news of China's intrusion into Vietnam's sea territory and becameindignant.
"I send my love and nostalgia for my country throughthe song. Probably, that's the reason why I can touch an audience'shearts."-VNA
