Published:  00:00 Sunday - September 19, 2010

2010 is a special year for people’s artist Dang Thai Son to participate in the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The famous Vietnamese pianist shared his pleasure in an interview granted to our reporter.

VOV: How did you feel when you were chosen to perform at the opening celebration on October 1?

Dang Thai Son: As a Hanoian, I did have very fond memories of my childhood in Hanoi. It is my great honour to attend the most special event in my life and I can feel its atmosphere right now.

Although I am very busy this year, I will try my best to attend.

VOV: Why did you decide to perform piano concerto No.2 by Rachmaniov on this occasion?

Dang Thai Son: Firstly, because it is very popular and very suitable for a gala.

Secondly, this number is of great significance to me as I started my career with it. In 1975, when I was a student of the Vietnam Music School (now the Vietnam National Conservatoire), my Russian music teacher, Issac Katz, chose me and another newcomer to play the concerto, which was only taught to university students then. At first I was really anxious but with my parents’ encouragement I felt a lot more self-confident and could play the piece after a few months.

My school was very surprised to see me playing the concerto at the school’s Rachmaniov anniversary. This was a landmark in my career and I owed my success to Mr. Katz.

VOV: Has 2010 been your busiest year?

Dang Thai Son: No wonder it has been my busiest year since 1980. I will fly to Taiwan right after this interview to perform there before returning to Hanoi. I will also attend a major music festival in Beijing which attracts many world-famous musicians.

After opening the capital’s millennial anniversary, I will fly to Poland to attend the 2010 Concours Chopin competition as a judge and will also tour Germany, the US, and Japan.

VOV: What do you think about the Vietnamese contestants at the first international piano competition which closed in Hanoi on September 13?

Dang Thai Son: Professionally speaking, they were not much different from foreign competitors. It seems they were not well prepared for the event and so they could not gain high results. Another problem is that there had been no clear-cut long term planning. They just waited until the last minute to try their best.

VOV: Thank you very much.