This is the moment: Pop star Duc Tuan will perform musical theatre pieces in his live show Dau An in HCM City on Saturday. — File Photo

HCM CITY  (VNS) — Pop singer Duc Tuan will pay tribute to the songs that made him a star, singing many of them at a concert in HCM City this weekend.

Dau An (The Hallmark) on Saturday will also be a celebration of 14 years in the industry for him.

Tuan will open the show with pop and R&B along with his friends, singers Ngoc Tuyen, Ngoc Anh, and Uyen Linh.

The highlights will be pieces from English and French musicals.

"Pop music brought me fame," 29-year-old says. "But I found myself singing in musical theatre.

"My fans have supported me in challenging myself in the new style."

He will sing pieces from The Phantom of the Opera and immortal songs like This Is the Moment, Memory, and Sunset Boulevard that have been performed countless times on Broadway.

Tuan worked with English conductor-composer Paul Bateman, Canadian singer Genevieve Charest, and Irish sound specialist Colin Voland on how to sing some of the songs.

He made copyright payments of nearly US$20,000 for performing some of the songs at the show.

Tuan's love for opera began at an early age. In 2003 he first enjoyed Broadway musicals while on a visit to New York. "I knew it was my calling," he said in a recent interview with The Thao &Van Hoa (Sports & Culture) newspaper.

"My teachers infused their passion into me. I have no reason to doubt my new style."

He is confident about the success of Hallmark.

His last live concert, Music of the Night in 2009, featured a symphony orchestra of 60 artists, and was performed before a select group of fans. The orchestra played under Bateman.

Then too he sang English and French songs and wowed the audience, which included some famous music critics.

Tuan's singing career got a start in 2000 when he won the HCM City Television Singing Competition, one of the country's top professional singing contests.

With his strong voice and good looks, Tuan has become a big hit with audiences in HCM City and southern provinces.

He has released 14 albums in pop, R&B, and musical theatre. His latest album, Requiem, featuring songs in jazz and opera by veteran composer Pham Duy will be released early next month.

"I hope my show will be a party for my fans," he said. — VNS