VietNamNet Bridge - At ‘Everlasting’, a concert that took place in September at the Ha Noi Opera House, Pho An My amused the primarily Vietnamese audience during her introduction by performing in a simple white blouse with black trousers. She talks more about her life and career.

Pho An My was introduced to the piano when she was five years old. Eight years later, she left for Berlin, Germany, to pursue higher musical studies. She passed the entrance exams to the EM Phillips Bach School, one of the best musical training schools in Germany.

From the perspective of her friends and teachers, My was an ideal candidate to join forces with a clarinetist to take on piano and clarinet competitions. She went on to win first prize at a competition in Berlin in 1996. She graduated with honours and returned to Viet Nam two years later.

Can you talk a bit about your decision to go to Germany for piano studies? Did you face any fears or difficulties?

I went when I was 13. My brother was a student in Germany at that time. He came home for the holidays and asked my parents to let me go with him. They agreed, and I worked hard for six months to pass the school entrance exams.

There was no fear, but some sadness. At first I couldn’t speak the language, and my roommate was a German girl. We couldn’t talk or share anything with each other, so I was really homesick. Even though I had a scholarship from the school, I had to find part-time jobs to pay my living expenses. But I still remember how I felt the first time I ate a French cake bought at an underground station. I have still never eaten anything as delicious. The hard times helped me clarify exactly what I wanted.

What are the basic differences between teaching and learning methods in Germany and Viet Nam?

The first thing was the environment. The German people grew up with classical music; even farmers listen to it. Though we were only students, our school arranged for us to perform regularly. It was really an excellent way of practising our skills in front of an audience. Second, the way teachers used to guide their students never made us nervous or afraid of taking our exams. Those two aspects made us really excited to learn, so we were really committed to our studies. I was able to practise playing the piano constantly, from morning until late at night. I only stopped for meals.

So during the hard times, what was it that made you want to live abroad?

I wanted to be a real artist. But in the Vietnamese context, I am sure art should first be a personal story that meets with personal satisfaction. Then it can be shared with certain friends. For me, that’s enough.

Some said that you had no intention of performing in Viet Nam. Why did you change your mind?

Yes, that’s how I felt once. When I came home in 1998, I felt that I was helpless and too afraid to perform. This lasted until 2005 when one of my close friends invited me to participate in an exhibition at l’Espace, the French cultural centre. After that small performance, l’Espace invited me to perform regularly and my love for the piano returned.

What is the most basic principle you follow for domestic shows?

It is all about the inspiration; if I find it interesting, I will play it, and vice versa. It would be fair to say that I don’t make my living by playing the piano.

You and some artists from the Viet Nam National Tuong (Classical Drama) Theatre successfully introduced the combination of piano and Vietnamese classical drama in the play Lua Thieng (Sacred Fire) last December. Can you talk about this interesting idea?

It’s a long story. I have seen a variety of festivals, and traditional songs and dances on stage. At first, I only watched because I was curious; I gradually became more interested in them. I am getting used to listening to traditional folk music played in its original context. For example, when I go to a love market in Sa Pa, the folk songs mingle with the vast mountains and forests and I feel that everything is joined together like a natural breath, creating an indescribable beauty.

I chose to combine piano with Vietnamese classical drama because it was a unique traditional art; it was the most philosophically rich art in Viet Nam. I wanted to try out the combination between these two musical languages. Hopefully, this new mix will stimulate young audiences when the play is performed in public.

It means you initiated the idea. How did the participants of this unprecedented play, especially artists from the Viet Nam National Classical Drama Theatre, react?

They all had a common feeling, which was happiness. My idea was just one component. If pianist Dang Tue Nguyen, classical drama theatre director Hoang Khiem, choreographer Cong Nhac, and many other artists had not been there to participate, it never would have been done. The piano helped to guide and splice the chapters of the play. Some of the music even helped the audience remember previous scenes before a new one began; the classical drama was also refined. Furthermore, making music the main aspect of the play was not easy at all. We rehearsed for three months.

You said that you don’t make your living by playing the piano. So what is your primary job?

My husband and I manage a furniture business.

Can you talk a little bit about your future plans?

I have nurtured a dream of opening a musical environment like my school in Germany for quite a long time. Children will be able to attend and be excited and passionate about their studies; parents will also be able to see their children’s abilities grow with their own eyes. I want children to be trained according to international standards in a professional environment. The school will open next month, everything is ready.

You seem to have many roles. You are a musician, a businesswoman, and just a regular woman with a practical mind. Have you ever thought about yourself? And what does the piano mean to you in this hustle and bustle lifestyle?

Your question makes me feel like I have a multiple personality disorder! I am always busy. When I look back at my day, I often feel that I have done nothing. At times like that, music consoles me.

VietNamNet/VNS