Ninh Duc Hoang Long (right) performs at the President’s Palace in Budapest. (Photo from Ninh Duc Hoang Long’s Facebook) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnamese operastudent Ninh Duc Hoang Long has just won the first prize in his category in aHungarian TV talent show.
Long came out top in the 21-29 age rangecategory in the Virtuozok Classical Talent Show 2018. He will compete in thegrand final on June 8.
Heannounced his victory on Facebook and told Viet Nam News in an email: "I’mextremely moved and cried at the moment the judging board called my name."
"I received the invitation to join thecontest at its first season in 2014. Yet I have waited till the 4th season thisyear to join to have more time to practice."
At the show, which is sponsored by AnitaHerczegh, the wife of the Hungarian President, contestants compete in three agegroups – children (born between 2002-2010), teens (born between 1997-2002) andadults (born between 1989-1997) – and can show off their skills and talents infront of a jury of professionals.
Thenew season premiere of Virtuosos was aired at the end of April. At theauditions for the various age groups nine contestants were selected from eachshow. Eventually, three children, teens and adults made it to the finals, wherethe winners in each age group were announced.
And in the grand finale on June 8, the prizewinner will be chosen by public votes to receive the title of Virtuosos of2018.
At the final round at the end of May, Longperformed two songs namely Romeo Cavatina from the play Romeo et Juliet byCharles Gounod and Mattinata by Ruggero Leoncavallo.
Besides the age group prizes, the grand prizeand the award, contestants will have the chance to win many special prizes,concert offers including master courses and scholarships.
Hungary’sfirst classical talent show, Virtuosos had its debut in 2014. Unlike othertraditional talent shows, the programme particularly focuses on classical musiceducation and discovering talents. Besides searching for musical talents, themission of Virtuosos is to promote and popularise classical music to a wideraudience.
This year’s judges include leading Hungarianartists namely Andras Batta - former director of the Liszt Ferenc MusicAcademy; Gergely Keselyak - noted conductor; Erika Miklosa - world’s famousopera singer; Janos Balasz - noted pianist; and Istvan Varda - famed cellist.
Audiences all over the world can vote for him bytwo ways. The first way is sending message: LONG to phone number 36304422999.Each moble number can send up to 50 messages. The second way is downloadingMediaklikk Plusz on mobile phone, login by your facebook account or gmail; thenclick on "Szavaz" at the down right corner, click on Long’s photo andclick on the blue button Szavaz. You can vote by this way every 20 minutes.
On April 29, Long won the first prize at the10th International Jozsef Simandy Singing Competition.
The 27-year-old has been called an "operaphenomenon" by Vietnamese experts.
He was born into a family with art traditions inthe northern province of Ninh Binh. His father is a poet and playwright whilehis uncle is a composer. Though Long’s mother does not work as a professionalsinger, she possesses a good voice. However, he was not encouraged to followart career at the beginning. Long had tried his best to persuade his parents tolet him sit for the entrance exam to the Vietnam National Music Academy.
During two years studying at the academy, heachieved good results and scholarships for his talent. With the support of histeacher, People’s Artist Trung Kien, Long was sent to Hungary to further studyfive years ago, where he has joined various shows and won prizes.
In April 2016, Long won the first prize of categoryII (up to 26 years old) at the 9th Jozsef Simandy International Singing Contestheld in Szeged City, Hungary.
In 2018, he won the first prize of category III (upto 36 years old) at the 9th József Simándy International Singing Competition.He had performed on various local stages in Hungary, Vietnam and Europe.
He already finished a Bachelor programme in 2017and now studying the first years of Opera Master programme in Franz LisztAcademy of Music with Kossuth prize Opera Singer Kiss B. Atilla and Cseh Dalma.-VNA
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