A kaleidoscope of performances have been unfolding at this year’s Hue festival.
 
The colorful extravaganza of Hue Festival 2008, ongoing until June 11 in the central town of Hue, presents a forum for both local and international artists to gather and display their best talents.

Combining the charms of a traditional royal folk festival with modern performances this year by 66 art troupes and artists hailing from 23 countries around the world, the event has grown in stature and size each year since it was first held in 2000.

Below are the backgrounds of some of the unique artists and groups that are featured at this year’s event, along with a brief recap about their performances over the last few days, or a preview of upcoming shows.

Entrancing American jazz

World-famous blues and jazz singer CoCo York from the US gave several mesmerizing performances at the ancient Duyet Thi Duong Theater located inside the historic Hue Citadel on June 4 and 5 and at An Dinh Palace on June 6.

York had performed across the globe and was invited to sing at the 1997 presidential inauguration of President Bill Clinton.

She is currently a professor of jazz studies at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music in the Netherlands.

Another group from the US, the Kimotion ensemble, performed alongside famed Vietnamese saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan at the western stage of Thai Hoa Palace on the evenings of June 4, 5 and 6.

Kimotion, formerly known as The Paumalu Symphony, was founded in 1975.

With 22 musicians, the ensemble includes four trumpets, four trombones, five saxes, two guitars, keyboards, percussion, bass, drums, a violin, a viola and a cello.

The group’s music is an energetic blend of rock, jazz and a variety of other influences.

Their first album in 1991, titled “War Stories,” was released to great acclaim.

Mesmerizing Russian dances

Russia’s Kalinka Dance Ensemble, comprised of 200 youths, is set to liven up the festival with further performances on the evenings of June 8 and 10.

The troupe, which was formed in 1970 in Moscow, has performed in 42 countries around the world, introducing iconic Russian folk dances as well as contemporary dances.

The Flamingo Dance Ensemble, meanwhile, will perform at the Grand Palace Gate at 9 p.m. tonight.

Founded in 1990, the troupe is the first in Russia’s Far East to develop both folk, classic and contemporary dances which fuse jazz elements.

Alluring Spanish rhythms

Fernando Hurtado Dance Ensemble, one of the most prestigious contemporary dance troupes in Spain, will enthrall festival-goers with a contemporary dance piece titled Quisiera Borrarte de un suspiro (I wish you’d take back that sigh) at East Thai Hoa at 7:30 p.m. tonight and on the 10th.

The troupe, which has been working together as a company since2000, has won several prizes, including the third prize in the 14th Choreographic Festival of Madrid.

Well-loved Israeli tunes

Israeli band Esta played at West Thai Hoa stage on June 5 and 7.

A multi-ethnic band, Esta create a distinctive style that mixes Israeli tunes with Jewish, Balkan, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, African and Celtic genres.

The band, which has performed in different venues in the world over the past 25 years, skillfully fuses contemporary music, most notably rock and jazz, with folk music.

Enthralling Italian songs

Davide Mancini, a popular Italian singer and songwriter, will show off his skills on the Eastern stage tomorrow and at the Grand Palace Gate on June 10.

He will also introduce his latest album titled Madame Gerbelle, which features songs in Italian and French and is dedicated to a traditional medicine practitioner from his mountain village near Aosta.

After Ireland, France, Germany and Spain, Mancini is now spreading his talent into Asia.

Haunting piano melodies

Belgian pianist Jean-Francois Maljean will enchant visitors with his piano solos and songs at Duyet Thi Duong Theater in the Hue Citadel at 9 p.m. tonight.

A successful solo artist for over a decade, his work combines New Age elements and jazz with pop.

In recent years, Maljean has successfully incorporated Asian elements into his works, adapting pieces by renowned New Age composer Kitaro for piano.

Stunning fireworks display

Famed French pyrotechnic artist Pierre Alain Hubert, whose show livened up the festival’s opening, will also close the festival with an awesome fireworks display featuring two waterfalls cascading behind the stages.

This is the third time the 63-year-old artist has performed at the Hue Festival.

He is known for his pyrotechnic involvements at major events such as the 1988 Winter Olympics and 2002 World Cup.

Reported by Bui Ngoc Long