Art & Entertainment News Headlines 28/9 Ryu Goto to enthrall Hanoi, HCMC audiences   World renowned Japanese violin soloist Ryu Goto will perform Concert Vol.42 “Paganini” at the Hanoi Opera House on May 28-29. Under the baton of professor Honna Tetsuji, Ryu is sure to delight Vietnamese audiences with Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto Op. 35 and Gustav Mahle’s Symphony No.1 D major “Titan”. Born in 1988, Ryu Goto is now residing in the US. He has performed with a number of world’s leading orchestras. Ho Chi Minh City’s young audiences will also have an opportunity to exchange with young artists from the University of North Texas at an annual music programme at the city’s Municipal Theatre on May 29. Conducted by Clay Couturiaux, the US and Ho Chi Minh Symphony Orchestras will perform three famous works including Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Op. 47 (Edward Elgar), Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra (Mozart), and a concerto for violin, cello and orchestra Op.102 (Johannes Brahms). Inspiration in full bloom at exhibit The flowers in noted architect Hoang Dao Kinh's paintings create a blaze of colour in the exhibition room at the Casa Italia, Ha Noi. Entitled Hoa Vo Uu (Carefree Flowers), the exhibition of 18 of the works opened on Monday and follows two months of absorbed work. Kinh said that two months ago, he suddenly found inspiration in the blooming flowers of summer. Every day, he bought a bunch from the market, spent all day admire them and portraying them. "I let myself drift with emotion and then set to work," he said, "I didn't care about fine-arts styles or other matters. "Once, when I was feeling greatly elated, I finished one painting in a day." Kinh lost himself in his paintings as the flowers made him feel happy and peaceful. "Life is so busy and full of worry, I find tranquility and relaxation in painting," he said. "Through the exhibition, I want to pass on this happiness to visitors," he said, "I expect that they will also discover similar feelings if they admire my work." Kinh considers fine arts as a hobby that helps him relax. He's passionate about painting flowers and has organised many exhibitions in Ha Noi, Hue and Warsaw (Poland). Italian Ambassador Lorenzo Angeloni said Kinh's paintings inspired him with a special energy. "Kinh shows talent. He is quite professional," he said, "I was charmed by the beautiful flowers and brilliant paintings." Kinh was born in 1941. He is an expert in preservation and restoration of architectural relics and heritage, an architectural theorist and critic. He has also created many paintings. He has published books on cultural heritage preservation and architecture. Currently, he's a member of the National Cultural Heritage Committee. In the last 10 years, he has co-operated with Italian researchers in the restoration of the Cham towers at My Son in central Quang Nam. With support from the Italian Embassy, Kinh will organise a workshop on Saturday at the Casa Italia and discuss the preservation of cultural heritage. Through the workshop he will introduce a master course where students can learn to preserve cultural heritage. Kinh will use profits from his paintings to grant a scholarship to a Vietnamese student to study the preservation of Vietnamese antiquities. The exhibition will run until June 6 at the Casa Italia, 18 Le Phung Hieu Street, Ha Noi. Argentina publishes President Ho Chi Minh’s books Argentina’s Acercándonos Ediciones publishing company has published a series of books on the late President Ho Chi Minh – Vietnam’s great revolutionary leader. Fernando Roperto from Acercándonos Ediciones said President Ho’s books were part of a collection named after the legendary guerrilla Che Guevara. The books focus on classic Marxism–Leninism theories and writings on the world by leaders of the proletariat. It aims to honour Ho Chi Minh’s ideology and help readers understand more about Vietnam’s glorious history in its past struggles against foreign invasion. Roperto said his publishing house plans to introduce Argentinean audiences to more books by Vietnamese authors, to help them learn more about Vietnam, both past and present. Last year, Argentinean publisher Cienflores published two works written by General Vo Nguyen Giap on humans and weapons, and the people’s army. The publishing house will soon print more books of General Giap and writings by President Ho Chi Minh. Paintings, photos depic bustling, peaceful life in Vietnam A painting, photo, and poetry exhibition themed “Life: Up and Down”, juxtaposing life in the bustling city streets with more relaxed, serene lifestyles will be held at the French Cultural Centre L' Espace from May 30-June 30. Ink paintings and photos by Marie-Cécile Marques and Eric Huynh provide a contrast to the inner and outer, noisiness and serenity of Vietnam’s streets. In particular, all works at the exhibition are painted on Do (Poonah) paper, a unique material of Vietnamese fine art, which is perfect for ink. Treasured Hue communal house faces challenges The 200-year-old Duong Pham communal house in Hue is in ruins despite its historical and architectural values. All the wooden structures of the house, which was designed based on the style of nha ruong (wooden house with many beams and pillars), have collapsed. Altars that were once set for gods and the founders of the village lie exposed to both sun and rain. Meanwhile, the house's surrounding land is illegally occupied by six households. Local people living near the house, which is located in the former royal capital, Hue City's Phu Nhuan Ward, continue to take bricks from its broken fencing walls. According to researcher Ho Tan Phan, Duong Pham Village is one of the earliest villages with land that later formed the urban Hue City. "The development of Hue originated from the communities that were formed in the ancient villages, which include Duong Pham. Thus, we need to respect the structure to preserve part of Hue's history," he noted. Phan suggested that due to urbanisation, local authorities could take part of the house's land for constructing community institutions, but the iconic building should be preserved as a heritage site for Hue. Researchers at the Viet Nam Institute for Culture and Art Study in Hue have carried out several studies on ancient communal houses in the city, and they have highlighted the architectural values of the house as well as the unique carving patterns on its beams, panels and altars. The experts believe that the present carving masters cannot create such artistic wooden carvings. Authorities of the city have ordered Phu Nhuan Ward, where the house is located, to dismantle the house completely, and use the land for a public building. "We are in a dilemma as we do not dare to ruin the house because this is the property of our ancestors. Dismantling it completely is something we should reconsider culturally and spiritually," said Ho Dung, chairman of the ward. Dung pointed out that the ward has asked city authorities to construct a concrete building that makes use of the wooden structures of the house on a total area of 500 square metres of the old building. The remaining land area can be used for community activities. "But they have not approved or even abandoned our proposal for years. We cannot move the illegal occupying households and provide proper protection to the house without a clear decision from the city authorities," he added. Dedicated researchers in Hue wanted the city to preserve the house. "The house should be conserved as it is based on a road with many royal monuments that is suitable for historical tourism or cultural activities," said researcher Phan. Near the house are the An Dinh Palace, constructed in the French style; the memorial house to the latest queen of the Nguyen dynasty (1802–1945); and many other private residences of former royal family members. Hue natives and researchers believe that the restoration of the house will enhance the beautiful view of the road running along the famous An Cuu Canal in Hue. Old books return to shelves Six Vietnamese books from the 1930-45 period have been reprinted in Ha Noi by Nha Nam Culture and Communications Company. Considered masterpieces of Vietnamese literature, the books are So Do (Dumb Luck) by Vu Trong Phung, Viec Lang (The Village) by Ngo Tat To, Vang Bong Mot Thoi (Once Upon an Old Time) by Nguyen Tuan, Mieng Ngon Ha Noi (Ha Noi's Tasty Dishes) by Vu Bang and Gio Dau Mua (Early Seasonal Wind) and Ha Noi Bam Sau Pho Phuong (Ha Noi's 36 Streets & Guilds) by Thach Lam. Implemented by the Nha Nam Co and the Viet Nam Writers Association Publishing House, the project aims to reintroduce the works to Vietnamese audiences and make them once again popular, said Vu Hoang Giang, director of Nha Nam Co. "The project will honour works which best reflect Vietnamese literature in the 1930-45 period. Different genres such as novels, reportage and essays will be selected," Giang said. "These works are great successes of Vietnamese literature." In the first phase, the Nha Nam company invited literature researchers Lai Nguyen An, Pham Xuan Nguyen and writer Ta Duy Anh to collaborate on the project by collating the various editions of each book. An collected copies of So Do, including the first copy printed in Ha Noi Newspaper in 1938 as well as other editions printed in 1946, 1952 and 1961. "Collation is very tough work," An said at the launching ceremony in Ha Noi last week. About 2,000 copies of each book were released, according to Dang Tran Quan, an employee at Nha Nam Co. "A recent survey by Nha Nam Company found that students at Ha Noi universities wanted to read Vietnamese literature from the 1930-45 period. So it was essential to have a system to reprint these masterpieces," Quan said. In the next phase, the publishers will reprint books written after 1945. Documentaries on Vietnam's sea and islands to screen in Hanoi Five documentary films on Vietnam’s sea and islands by film directors of the National Studio for Documentary and Scientific film will be screened to Hanoi’s audiences on May 31. Screening the films, which were produced during the national resistance war against the US and in national construction and defence, is one of activities to assist people and soldiers who live and serve in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes. The films not only feature the beauty of the landscape and Vietnamese people but also contribute to affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over its sea and islands. The documentaries, including Dau Song Ngọn Gio (The Most Dangerous Position) by director Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, Truong Sa thang 4 nam 1988 (Truong Sa in April, 1988) by People’s Artist Le Manh Thich, Dao Ly Son (Ly Son Island) by Cong Thanh Duc, Bien Cua Nguoi Viet (Sea of Vietnamese People) by Dao Thanh Tung and Andre Menras – Mot Nguoi Viet (Andre Menras – A Vietnamese Person) by Dao ThanhTung, are scheduled to be screened at 465 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Hanoi at 7pm Source: VNN/VNS/VNA/VOV/SGGP