Concert «Subscription Concert Vol. 186»: Rossini, Ravel, Haydn

   Rossini's galloping William Tell overture, Ravel's jazz-flecked Piano Concerto in G and Haydn's Symphony No. 82 — nicknamed "The Bear" — add up to one of the lightest-footed programmes of the season. The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra's subscription series in Hanoi reaches instalment No. 186.

   The programme:

• — G. Rossini — William Tell Overture;
• — M. Ravel — Piano Concerto in G major;
• — J. Haydn — Symphony No. 82 in C major, "L'Ours" (The Bear).

   On the podium is Nguyen Phu Son (Nguyễn Phú Sơn), who studied conducting in Mannheim and has appeared with the VNSO as a guest conductor. The soloist is pianist Nguyen Dang Quang (Nguyễn Đăng Quang) — son of singer Thanh Lam and composer Quốc Trung, a University of Montreal graduate whose mentors include Đặng Thái Sơn, winner of the 1980 Chopin Competition.

   It works well as a first symphony concert — nothing on the bill demands homework — while regulars get to hear a young Vietnamese soloist take on Ravel's trickiest rhythms. The hall is in Dong Da district, a short ride from the Old Quarter.

   Ticket classes differ only by floor of the hall; tickets are physical and couriered to you, so give a full delivery address when booking.

   If "symphony concert" still sounds intimidating, this is the programme that proves otherwise.