The orchestra struck up the prelude of the Serenata, the audience became silent and stayed focused on the music and, at the finale, burst into thuderous applause. Thus began the second “Business People Sing” night in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Saigon Times Club.
By Thu Hoai
It was hard to believe that it was an amateur music night, even though all the artists, from singers to instrumentalists, were business people. Reputed CEOs and directors of businesses, such as Tran Minh Tam, Nguyen Hoang Hai, Duong Tan Son and Truong Viet Vu, impressed the audience with their skillful rendittion of the song Thuong Nhau Ngay Mua (Love on a Rainy Day). With her once famous voice, Thanh Huong, director of Quang Minh Advertising Company, stole the audiences’ souls when she performed the song I will always love you. Other businesswoman, such as Lan Hanh, manager of Lan Hanh Swimming Suit Fashion Company, and Chung Huong Giang, public relations manager of PepsiCo Vietnam, provided thrilling moments with the song O! Me Ly and Duong Xua (Old Path).
Male artists also earned the respect of the audience with their warm and emotional voices: Duong Tan Son sang Phoi Pha (Fading Away), Tran Thanh Phi gave a heartfelt rendition of My Way, Truong Viet Vu performed Mo Ve Em (Dream of You), and Le Chi Hieu sang his own song Ra Khoi(Out to the Sea). Very few people would have imagined that in their daily lives these people are strong, cool-headed business leaders.
The sane must be said for the instrumentalists. Tran Minh Tam was on the keyboard, Tran Hoai Phuong played guitar, Vu Sinh Nhat Hy played cello, and Nguyen Nhat Thinh and Pham Ngoc Thuy performed on the violin. With the instruments in their hands, they turned in performances that were sensitive and moving.
All these business people clearly have a passion for music, and that passion was evident in their performances. Tran Minh Tam said aside his work at TTT company, where he is a chairman, to spend hours rehearing with the orchestra. Pham Ngoc Thuy, a Vietnamese American who is CEO of Eurotec Company, actively called the organizer to offer her participation. Even the audience, mainly in the business community, demonstrated their appreciation for the music with their warm and enthusiastic applause.
This year the program seemed more professional and better-organized. Participants had undoubtedly spent a lot of time rehearing and preparing. Some played with the orchestra until one o’clock in the morning, and some took their children with them.
This is good news as it reveals the vibrant life of the business community. And it is not surprising to learn that there are some who have made their own records, some of which are available at music stores, such as Duong Tan Son, who released his Trinh Cong Son – Ru CD in which he sang with singer Trinh Vinh Trinh, and Tran Hoai Phuong with his guitar solo Gop La Mua Xuan.
The Business People Sing is a wonderful opportunity for organizers to expand the program in the future to bring together many members of the community.