New documentary spotlights classical music in Vietnam

Watch more videos here

Here is the official trailer of Once upon a bridge in Vietnam - a new documentary by French film maker François Bibonne.

In February 2020, following the death of his Vietnamese grandmother Therese Nguyen Thi Koan, Bibonne set out to explore Vietnam through investigations of classical music within the country.

’As a classical music fan and a graduate of history, I was fascinated by Vietnam’s historic roots in classical music,’ said Bibonne.

During his exploration, Bibonne meets Thuy, a traditional musician who wants to learn more about Vietnamese culture. Bibonne’s travels gradually turn into a quest for identity, bringing Vietnamese culture closer to his western upbringing, whereby music becomes a bridge between Bibonne and his grandmother.

Bibonne aims for the documentary to offer ‘more than digital tourism,’ by exploring cross-cultural languages through musical composition, as well as an insight into the rich history of Vietnam and its conflict and reconciliation with France.

The documentary features interviews mostly with female musicians in Vietnam from different musical backgrounds, who outline the international influence of music culture in their lives. It features travel from the Hanoi Opera House to jungles and rice fields in the countryside, as well as the contrasts of soundtrack  between Vietnamese traditional music and western classical music, highlighting the unique contrasts that inspired many composers in Vietnam.

The film has been screened at the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in March 2023. Bibonne plans to release the full film online later this year. For more information on his film company Studio Thi Koan, visit www.studiothikoan.com or contact communication@studiothikoan.com

Playing

In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.

Teaching

The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.

Calendars

This year’s calendar celebrates the top instruments played by members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony, Australian String Quartet and some of the country’s greatest soloists.