HÀ NỘI — As the whole country turns its attention to those suffering from the devastation of Yagi typhoon and floods, music will help spread goodwill and mutual support during these difficult times.

That was the commitment from Editor-in-Chief of Nhân Dân (People) newspaper and Deputy Head of the Central Committee's Publicity and Education Commission Lê Quốc Minh about an up-coming concert featuring the world's best-selling electric string quartet BOND.

Scheduled to take place on October 5, the concert is the second in a ‘Good Morning Việt Nam’ series – an annual charity project that has been held by the newspaper in collaboration with the IB Group, specialists in international events.

The all-women quartet performed in Việt Nam in 2015 and 2016, but it will be the first time the four talented musicians have been playing to the Vietnamese public in a charity event.

“All ticket proceeds from the concert BOND Live in Vietnam will be donated to support those affected by Yagi Typhoon,” Minh said.

The Editor-in-Chief said that the concert is a reaffirmation of the commitment by the Nhân Dân newspaper to continue bringing world-class music to the country through professionally organised programmes.

At the same time, it contributes to spreading the cultural values of Việt Nam, set against the backdrop of beautiful, familiar melodies to friends around the world.

Last year, the ‘Good Morning Việt Nam’ project began with a concert of Kenny G, one of the best-selling instrumental artists of all time.

“The success of the Kenny G concert has affirmed the correct direction of the Nhân Dân newspaper, and we believe that BOND Live in Vietnam as well as other future concerts will be warmly received by the public across the country,” Minh said.

According to Nguyễn Thùy Dương, Chairman of IB Group Vietnam and Production Director of the concert, BOND Live in Vietnam is the largest ever concert of the quartet in the country.

The performance will take place at the National Convention Hall, which can host an audience of nearly 4,000.

Consisting of Tania Davis (violin), Eos Counsell (violin), Elspeth Hanson (viola) and Gay-Yee Westerhoff (cello), the group has sold more than five million albums with over 70 platinum and gold albums, making them the best-selling string quartet in the history of the music industry.

With model good looks and the attitude of a rock band, with their high energy and classical crossover music, BOND is a group that breaks all traditional and rigid views about classical music.

In 2000, their début album Born went to the top of the British classical chart, but the quartet was banned from the UK Classical charts. The British board that compiles the charts said the music was ‘sounding too much like pop music’.

The album later rose to Number 1 on 21 charts around the world. — VNS