Remembrance: Pop star Cam Van will perform in the music show Hai Muoi Nam Coi Thien Thai to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of Van Cao, one of the country's greatest contemporary composers. — Photo Courtesy of Cat Tien Sa

HCM CITY (VNS) — Leading Vietnamese singers will perform in a show at the HCM City Music Conservatory this weekend to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of Van Cao, one of the country's greatest contemporary composers.

Thanh Thuy, Anh Bang, Pham Thu Ha and Cam Van will sing before an expected audience of more than 2,000 at Hoa Binh Theatre.

The show, Hai Muoi Nam Coi Thien Thai (20 Years of Paradise), will be aired live on Viet Nam Television's VTV9 and on channels of TV stations in Da Nang, and the provinces of Thuu Thien-Hue, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc.

Highlights will include Thien Thai (Paradise), Lang Toi (My Village) and Ngay Mua (Harvest Day).

Vietnamese-French singer Hoa Mi will perform romantic ballads Suoi Mo (Dream Spring) and Thu Co Lieu (Lonely Autumn) .

Cao's patriotic songs like Tien Ve Ha Noi (Marching to Ha Noi) will be performed by the pop band Nam Dong Ke.

Born Nguyen Van Cao in the northern coastal city of Hai Phong, the artist initially composed romantic ballads like Buon Tan Thu (Sad Autumn) in 1939 and Cung Dan Xua (Old Melody) in 1942.

In 1942, he joined the revolutionary movement and began composing songs about the country and soldiers.

In 1944 he composed Tien Quan Ca (Marching Song) and the original version was chosen by President Ho Chi Minh to be the national anthem. The lyrics of the song were edited by the National Assembly in 1955.

His popular songs include Bac Son (Bac Son - A Guerrilla Centre During the War to Fight against French Invaders), Chien Si Viet Nam (Vietnamese Soldiers), Khong Quan Viet Nam (Vietnamese Air Force) in 1945, and Truong Ca Song Lo (The Lo River Epic) in 1947.

Cao was also successful in both poetry and painting.

The show Hai Muoi Nam Coi Thien Thai will start at 8pm tomorrow at the Hoa Binh Theatre, 240 Ba Thang Hai Street, District 10. — VNS