Veteran musician and former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman, 77, flew to northern Vietnam this week to give a unique concert at a bear sanctuary operated by the charity Animals Asia. The event, held in an outdoor enclosure about 35 miles north of Hanoi, featured the celebrated pianist playing a grand piano for an audience of more than 150 rescued sun and moon bears.
Wakeman said the performance was intended to celebrate the animals that have been rehabilitated and saved from the country’s illegal bear‑bile industry. “We’re here really to celebrate the rescued bears, to celebrate those that have been rehabilitated, rescued, looked after and saved in this wonderful sanctuary,” he wrote on Facebook.
New music inspired by the bears
During the concert the musician debuted two original piano pieces, “Dawn Reborn” and “Moon,” each dedicated to a specific bear at the sanctuary. The pieces were composed for Dawn and Moon, two moon bears that have become symbols of the sanctuary’s rescue work. Wakeman, who has acted as a caretaker for Moon since 2016, described the experience as “the most extraordinary concert of my life” and said he felt as if he were “in a bubble — just me and the bears.”
According to Animals Asia, eleven of the bears gathered close to the piano, seemingly listening intently. Wakeman noted that the bears reacted to certain musical passages, prompting him to adjust his playing in real time. “Obviously, we know music affects humans so I now know it affects bears too,” he said.
Sanctuary background and the fight against bear bile
The sanctuary sits in the valley of Tam Dao National Park and spans 11 hectares, housing roughly 200 sun and moon bears rescued from the bile‑extraction trade. Although Vietnam outlawed bear‑bile farming in 2005, illegal operations persist, driven by demand for the traditional‑medicine ingredient and gaps in enforcement.
Animals Asia founder Jill Robinson called the concert “magical” and emphasized the therapeutic role of music in the bears’ recovery. She highlighted Dawn’s transformation from a severely traumatized bear to a carefree resident, crediting a carefully designed care program that includes calm, low‑level music.
Why the event matters
The performance underscores the growing awareness of animal‑welfare issues in Southeast Asia and the role of cultural events in drawing attention to conservation efforts. By pairing a world‑renowned musician with a cause that protects vulnerable wildlife, the sanctuary hopes to inspire further support for ending the bear‑bile trade.
Wakeman’s involvement also demonstrates how artists can use their platforms to advocate for humane treatment of animals, aligning with broader faith‑based and family‑oriented values that emphasize stewardship of God’s creation.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
