Singer from Vietnam wins first prize at International Opera

Ninh Duc Hoang Long, a singer from Ninh Binh, just won first prize at the International Opera Competition in Hungary on April 4.

Accordingly, Ninh Duc Hoang Long surpassed nearly 150 contestants from Hungary and neighboring countries such as Slovakia, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania and many other famous countries such as Japan, China, England to become the champion of the 18-25 age group of the 9th Simandy Jozsep International Opera Competition.

In the final night, Ninh Duc Hoang Long performed the aria Hazám hazám - the work that made the name of legendary Hungarian opera singer Simandy Jozsef. The performance with the Szeged City Symphony Orchestra - Szeged National Theatre by the Vietnamese singer was highly appreciated by the judges among the 14 finalists.

Ninh Duc Hoang Long (left) is currently studying in Hungary. Photo: FBNV

Sharing with Zing.vn about his recent achievement, Ninh Duc Hoang Long said: “I feel very happy and proud to be the only Asian contestant to receive an award in the competition. After 4 months of hard training, I entered the competition with the goal of winning 3rd prize, but I did not expect that after going through the rounds, I would end up with first prize.”

The Simandy Jozsep International Opera Competition is one of the most prestigious opera competitions in the world. Therefore, the fact that an artist from Vietnam won first prize is highly appreciated by experts.

Hoang Long took a photo with the current Prime Minister and Minister of Human Resources of Hungary. Photo: FBNV

Musician and music researcher Nguyen Quang Long said: “Vietnam and other Asian countries do not have an advantage in opera because Europe is the cradle of this music genre. Therefore, the fact that an artist from Vietnam won first prize is very meaningful for the country's vocal music. Previously, Vietnam had Bich Thuy winning high prizes in opera in Thailand and China, now there is Hoang Long. This artist's talent is truly very valuable.”

Ninh Duc Hoang Long, born in 1991, was a student at the Vietnam National Academy of Music before receiving a university scholarship under the agreement between the Vietnamese and Hungarian governments, for the 2013-2017 term. He was the only foreign candidate to pass the entrance exam to the Opera Department of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Hungary in June 2014 and was praised by local media as a “musical phenomenon”./.

According to VOV