VietNamNet Bridge – A theatre project aimed at secondary school students by two entertainment groups was launched in HCM City this week.

Powerful voice: People’s Artist Bach Tuyet, a guru of cải lương (reformed opera), is taking part in the theatre project Một Thế Kỷ Cải Lương Việt Nam (A Century of Việt Nam’s Reformed Opera), targeted at secondary school students and launched in HCM City this week to celebrate the south’s traditional music genre. — Photo Thanh Hiep

The project, Một Thế Kỷ Cải Lương Việt Nam (A Century of Việt Nam’s Reformed Opera), is organised by the HCM City Centre of Performance and Cinematography in co-operation with Lac Long Quan Theatre Troupe.

It offers talks and performances by veteran artists in cải lương, a genre of southern traditional theatre.

The project is part of the city’s Theatre Artists Association’s celebration of 100 years of the art form.

People’s Artist Bach Tuyet, who is considered a cải lương guru, kicked off the event on Monday.

She visited students at the Nguyen Du Secondary School in District 10. 

Her talk and performances demonstrated information about the history and development of vọng cổ (nostalgia tunes) and cải lương in different periods in the last 10 decades.  

Vọng cổ songs, which feature the hopes and dreams of southern people, are used in cải lương and are popular among farmers living in Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta provinces.

Tuyet, who has spent more than 60 years on the stage, said her art would help students learn more about the country’s culture and lifestyle.

“My fans and I sang vọng cổ together. I hope my experience will help youngsters understand traditional Vietnamese music and theatre,” said the 74-year-old, who has written many documentaries and books on cải lương.

Tuyet is working with 50 young and veteran artists, many of them from the leading Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre.

They are offering cải lương shows every week at Cho Lon Theatre in HCM City’s District 5.

The artists perform songs and dances of cải lương, which feature the culture and lifestyle of Sai Gon in the 1950s and 60s.

They also stage famous excerpts from historical plays such as San Hậu ((The Reign) and Thái Hậu Dương Vân Nga (Queen Mother Dương Vân Nga).

Tuyet and her colleagues will also stage the project, Một Thế Kỷ Cải Lương Việt Nam, at six secondary schools in districts 4, 12, Binh Tan and Hoc Mon this year.

Veteran artists, such as People’s Artist Kim Cuong, Le Thuy and Ngoc Giau, will take part in the event.

Source: VNS