Timeless melodies: The Italian I Solisti Veneti orchestra will perform at the Ha Noi Opera House tonight without its conductor Maestro Claudio Scimone due to illness. — Photo solistiveneti.it

HA NOI (VNS)— One of the most popular Italian chamber orchestras, I Solisti Veneti, will bring the melody and virtuosity of Italian music to classical music lovers tonight at the Ha Noi Opera House.

The concert will feature masterpieces composed in the 18th century by Antonio Vivaldi, Tomaso Albinoni, Gioachino Rossini, Giovanni Bottesini, Gaetano Braga, Jean Baptiste Arban and the legendary Giuseppe Verdi on the occasion of his 200th birthday.

The night will be highlighted by two concertos for violin Spring and Summer taken from Vivaldi's work Four Seasons, with soloist performances from violinists Chiara Parrini and Lucio Degani.

Verdi and Rossini are mostly known as authors of operas and instrumental works. Variations for clarinet and strings from Gioachino Rossini's operas Mose in Egitto and La Donna del Lago will showcase a rough and fascinating instrumental virtuosity, according to the orchestra's introduction.

Act III from one of the Verdi's early works I Lombardi Alla Terza Crociata will be performed at the concert.

The Grand Duo Concertante by Bottesini is an opera duet parody in which a contrabass will mimic a soprano. Meanwhile variations on the Carnival of Venice by composer Arban will close the concert.

The unique programme is designed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Viet Nam, said violinist and orchestra representative Lucio Degani at a press conference yesterday.

The interpretation of this programme requires an exceptional orchestra with musicians who can perform as highly skilled soloists, said Degani.

Fifteen musicians from the I Solisti Veneti will play under lead violinist Lucio Degani, who replaces the conductor Maestro Claudio Scimone. The 79-year-old conductor's health is not in a good condition, according to Degani.

"Without the conductor I hope the concert will still make an impression on Vietnamese audiences with vivid and unique style," said Degani.

Since its establishment, I Solisti Veneti has remained linked to Maestro Claudio Scimone, who founded the orchestra in 1959. In its 55 years of activity, the orchestra has exported Venetian music all over the world, playing more than 5,000 concerts in almost 90 countries and performing at top international festivals.

The orchestra has performed in the most important music sanctuaries: from La Fenice in Venice to the New York Theatre with the most famous classical musicians and singers.

In 2008, the conductor and the orchestra received the Una Vita Nella Musica 2008 Award, considered by international critics to be the Nobel prize of music.

The concert kicks off at 8pm tonight. Tickets are available at 1 Trang Tien Street or by booking at www.ticketvn.com. — VNS