Published:  00:00 Saturday - October 09, 2010

Audiences in Hanoi this week will be treated to classical music from a Finnish quartet and performances by a Russian folk troupe as part of a diverse entertainment programme being held to mark the capital city's 1,000th anniversary.

The quartet from Finland's Seinajoki City Orchestra will perform with Vietnamese artists tonight at Hanoi Opera House. The set list includes Finnish and Vietnamese pieces such as Tugging Waltz and Vietnamese song Ve Que (Back to the Home Village).

The highlight of the concert will be a joint performance by the quartet and Vietnamese monochord artist Hoang Anh Tu playing Avec Maria by Schubert and Vietnamese folk song Beo Dat May Troi.

The Seinajoki Quartet was formed in 1977 by the principal string players of the Seinajoki City Orchestra. The quartet's repertoire includes classics by composers such as Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven as well as contemporary Finnish and international music.

Performing at the Cultural and Friendship Palace in Hanoi at 8 pm on October 9, the Pyatnitsky Russian Folk Chorus promises some lively song and dance to mark "Moscow Days", a programme aimed at showcasing Russian culture in Hanoi from Friday through Sunday.

The 62-member troupe was established by Mitrofan Pyatnitsky in 1910, when the group was comprised of 18 peasants. Today, the chorus has more than 100 members and has won numerous awards in Russia.

The performance will officially launch the Walking around Moscow photo exhibition, which showcases images by photographers who work for Russia's Itar-Tass news service.

Other foreign arts troupes taking part in Hanoi's millennial celebrations include groups from Germany, Britain, France, India, and Malaysia.