Nhan Dan Online- Audiences in Hanoi will have an opportunity to enjoy ‘The Little Sweep’ – a short opera by British composer Benjamin Britten on February 3 and 4 at the Hanoi Opera House.

This moving “Oliver Twist” – inspired story of friendship and sympathy and the hope for a better life for children in harsh Dickensian England will be performed by the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre under the baton of British conductor Graham Sutcliffe.

The opera tells about Sam, the sweep boy who is sold into service and bullied by his elders. One day, when the sweeps come to work for a rich family in Iken Hall, the children of this family take pity on the poor boy and decide to rescue him from the other sweeps. 

Deputy Director of the British Council Vietnam Simon Beardow said that “this event is part of our arts programme which focuses on audience development and promoting different types of UK music in Vietnam. For those who do not understand much about opera, ‘The Little Sweep’ by Benjamin Britten is a good starting point, being suitable for a variety of different audiences”.

‘This Britten’s miniature operatic masterpiece was completed in 1949 and has been very popular, particularly with younger audiences ever since,” he added

The opera is in Vietnamese with English subtitles with composer Duong Thu as Vietnamese libretto and People’s Artist  Pham Anh Phuong as artistic director:

Tickets are free and can be collected from January 6 at the British Council, 20 Thuy Khue and the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre, 11 Ngo Nui Truc.

By Dieu Thuy