Great Vietnamese entertainer who was in Sydney performing (apparently for the first time here) on Sunday 29/9/24. At this Opera House production called Sketch A Rose Ha Anh Tuan gave every audience member a silver plated freeform rose badge in a pouch! There was great warmth of the vocals and jazz orchestra that accompanied. Talking to our neighbouring audience members who spoke English it was noted that Ha Anh Tuan is one who gives alms to the poor in Vietnam, so is held in high regard by Vietnamese and others. The music was all in the singer’s mother tongue of Vietnamese but was sung with such relish and savouring of words along with fervent gesturing that I got a round sense of the worth and great expression of what this singer had to say to the world. It was a succession of songs about love. Adding to the thrill of this subject material was the red exotic blanket of roses in bloom that decked the stage floor and surrounding walls that were at times lit up further with a backdrop and strobes of coloured lights. It was a glam night for some and a night of joining in the singing of lyrics for some, and a night of remembering those and/ or being with those we love. Ha Anh Tuan was accompanied on stage at intervals by different other Vietnamese singers including another male singer and two female divas. At times Ha Anh Tuan got the well-versed audience to sing the next phrase which they did with relish. This performance inspired in me a desire to find out more about Vietnam. Actually it got me thinking about a novel I had been given in the last 6 months by Pin Yathay called Stay Alive My Son (1979) which was about a personal journey to stay alive during the war in Vietnam. This beautiful concert brought much to contemplate on creativity, beauty and freedom!
