The concert, entitled the Golden Century, was held in Hanoi on November 23, to honor People’s Teacher Thai Thi Lien who has played piano for nearly a century. Lien was one of the seven founders of the Vietnam Music School (now the Vietnam National Academy of Music), the cradle of the country’s professional music training. She was also the founder and the first dean of the Piano Department from 1956 to 1977, after training generations of pianists for the country. Among her students are famous pianists and teachers; Nguyen Huu Tuan, Hoang My, Tran Thu Ha, Tuyet Minh, Kim Dung, and People’s Artist Dang Thai Son – the first Asian pianist to win first prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition.

The concert comprises two parts, themed “People’s Teacher Thai Thi Lien and Generations of Her Students” and “Gifts to Mother and Teacher”.

In the first part, the audience had a chance to see the amazing talent of the great pianist, who, at the age of 100, presented wonderful melodies with her ageless hands.

Thai Thi Lien started the concert with Frederic Chopin’s “Mazurka in A minor”  No. 4, and “Mazurka in G minor” No. 2, making the concert an extraordinary experience for the audience.

On November 23, the Vietnam National Academy of Music held a concert to honor one-hundred-year-old People’s Teacher Thai Thi Lien, the only living founder of the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Pianist and People’s Teacher Thai Thi Lien performs at the concert. People’s Artist Tran Thu Ha and pianist Dan Thu Nga, daughter and grandchild of pianist Thai Thi Lien play Antonin Dvorak’s “Slavonic dance” at the Golden Century concert. Performance of Meritorious Artists Hoang Kim Dung and Tran Tuyet Minh, Madam Lien’s first-generation students. People’s Artist Dang Thai Son plays Maurice Ravel’s “Jeux d’eau” and “Alborada del Gracioso” as requested by his mother.

Following her performance, People’s Artist Tran Thu Ha and pianist Dan Thu Nga, the daughter and grandchild of Madam Lien, jointly played Antonin Dvorak’s “Slavonic Dance” as a gift to their beloved mother and grandmother.

Then came the presentation by Meritorious Artists Hoang Kim Dung and Tran Tuyet Minh, Madam Lien’s first-generation students, who together played Johannes Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance” No. 5 to show their gratitude toward their great teacher.

The second part of the concert was the performance of People’s Artist Dang Thai Son, the son and also the most excellent student of People’s Teacher Thai Thi Lien. Each piece of music Dang Thai Son played at the concert was associated with a beautiful memory of his mother and great teacher on his way to become a world renowned pianist.

Dang Thai Son started his performance with “Polonaise”, Chopin’s first work written when he was seven years old. This was also Chopin first piece of music practiced by Dang Thai Son. He was given this exercise by his mother when he was only nine years old.
The great pianist then played Maurice Ravel’s “Jeux d’eau” and “Alborada del Gracioso” as requested by his mother.

The Golden Century concert closed with congratulations from state leaders, thanks from generations of students and the audience’s love for great pianist and People’s Teacher Thai Thi Lien – Vietnam’s living monument of music.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Party and State leaders with People’s Teacher Thai Thi Lien. Minister of Culture Nguyen Ngoc Thien presents flowers to pianist Thai Thi Lien. Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan congratulates People’s Teacher Thai Thi Lien. Artists from the Vietnam National Academy of Music’s Piano Department, show gratitude toward their great teacher. Madam Lien's students of different generations. Teachers of the Vietnam National Academy of Music attend the concert.