Rome concert celebrates Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties
(VOV) - The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) gave a special performance at Rome’s Quirinal Palace on July 12, at the invitation of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
The event was part of the “Vietnam Year in Italy” and aimed to commemorate 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties.
After playing the national anthems of the two countries, 33 Vietnamese artists performed excerpts from works by Gioachino Rossini and Beethoven, including a violin solo by Bui Cong Duy.
They also staged a traditional Vietnamese folksong "Ly Hoai Nam" composed by Ngo Hoang Quan.
Before the concert, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Hoang Long had a brief meeting with Italian President Napolitano and Prime Minister Enrico Letta, to pass on a letter of thanks from Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang to the Italian leader.
In the letter, President Sang thanked Italian President Napolitano for sponsoring the VNSO concerts.
Meanwhile, at a meeting with Ambassador Long, Prime Minister Letta expressed his pleasure at the fine development of relations between Italy and Vietnam in recent years.
He also confirmed that Italy wants to further strengthen ties with Vietnam in all areas, especially economics, after the two countries established their strategic partnership during a state visit to Italy by Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong early this year.
Earlier, the VNSO held two concerts in Venice and Florence.
Within the "Vietnam Year in Italy", a total of nearly 100 political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, sports and tourism events are taking place throughout 2013 to introduce Vietnam, its land, people, dynamic development, and integration to international friends.