The Odyssey–from Vietnam to America

Oscar®-nominated and Emmy®Award-winning composer Vân-Ánh Võ premieres a new musical epic inspired by the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The Odyssey–from Vietnam to America explores the personal and spiritual journeys of the Boat People escaping war and reflects upon the resilience of the human
spirit and the price of freedom.
Conveying stories of human transformation that resonates for all, The Odyssey utilizes the beautiful sound of traditional Vietnamese instruments and lullabies to evoke the deepest sense of comfort, calm, and strength; complimented by layers of electronic music and Western instruments to embrace the parallel experiences of people from other communities.
The performances will feature musicians from Vân-Ánh Võ (The VA’V) Quartet with Alex Kelly on cello, Jimi Nakagawa on taiko and percussions, and Dan Cantrell on accordion and piano. Guest artists include award-winning environmental sound artist and ethnomusicologist Philip Blackburn, who has published articles on Vietnamese music, and award-winning video and media artist Ian Winters.