Theater Patriarch's Anniversary ceremony: Towards the root for shine

In order to remember the ancestors and generations of artists who have contributed to preserving and promoting the traditional stage arts of the nation, provincial Literature and Arts Association organized a ceremony to mark the 2023 Vietnam’s Stage Day at provincial Children's Cultural House on the evening of September 24. A large number of writers and artists in and out of the province gathered to express their gratitude towards their predecessors.

Towards the patriarch

Sharing gratitude to his ancestors, Meritorious Artist Minh Duc and artists who are members of Binh Duong provincial Literature-Arts Association, students and co-stars in Ho Chi Minh city participated in the performance to worship their predecessors with a Cai Luong (reformed opera) show named "Tron doi uom to” (A lifetime of Reeling Silk). Through this show, artists from Binh Duong wanted to send meaningful messages to his colleagues and students. To pay tribute to our ancestors, they must burn our hearts out on stage and actively pass on the fire of passion to the next generations.

A Cai luong excerpt named “Cau tho yen ngua” (Saddle Poem) being performed by Meritorious Artists Ngoc Kieu Oanh, Trung Hau, Bich Ngoan, Cong Danh, Hiep Mau and their dance group

Meanwhile, director Trung Hau said that every year when the death anniversary of the Theater Patriarch approaches, he is filled with a feeling of anxiety. He said that this is the Tet holiday for artists because they have the opportunity to meet many fellows from everywhere to offer incense to their ancestors. In recent years, director Trung Hau has staged and participated in performing Cai Luong shows in cultural programs to worship his ancestors, so he is even happier. He hopes that his colleagues and students will further develop the theater sector to be more worthy of what his predecessors built.

With a heart for their ancestors on Vietnam’s Stage Day, artists who are members of the Vietnam Theater Artists Association and the Theater Branch of provincial Literature and Arts Association performed a worship show. The program included “Cai luong” excerpts, namely “Cau tho yen ngua” (Saddle Poems), “Tron doi uom to” (A Lifetime of Reeling Silk), “Ve que” (Returning to the Homeland).

Hoping that the stage gets more thriving

In the warm atmosphere of the death anniversary of the Theater Patriarch, delegates and admirers together reviewed the tradition of Vietnam Theater Day (August 12 of lunar calendar) and reviewed achievements done by Binh Duong province’s theater sector over the past years.

In the 80s of the last century, People's Artist Thu Hong, along with Meritorious Artist Cao Thi Thang and artist Kim Le Thy, were recognized as three typical ancient music vocalists of Binh Duong at that time. Since 2015, Binh Duong has had 17 artists awarded titles by the State President, including 1 people's artist and 16 outstanding artists. Following the previous generations, Meritorious Artist Ngoc Kieu Oanh and artists, namely Thanh Hoang, Duong Thi Phuong Thao, Huynh Kim Thoa, Nguyen Thi Han Ni...have recently won high awards when participating in the national Don Ca Tai Tu (southern folk opera) festivals, Don Ca Tai Tu festivals of southern provinces and cities or talent contests such as Golden Rice, Chuong Vang (Golden Bell) Vong Co..., delighting the hearts of theater artists and audiences.

In the current integration process, we must "learn" to live together in a global cultural environment, accepting the positive and negative impacts of imported foreign cultural trends. Therefore, we must affirm the cultural appearance of our nation, through the passion for art, through creative thinking with the characteristics and bravery of our nation. That is a requirement not only for functional sectors, but also for each writer and artist.

Musician Pham Dac Hien, Chairman of provincial Literature and Arts Association said that choosing the 12th day of the 8th lunar month every year as the traditional death anniversary of the theater sector, Vietnam’s Stage Day has met the aspirations of the theater sector. This has contributed to encouraging a contingent of artists and those working in the theater field to always preserve and promote the fine traditional values ​​of Vietnamese theater, striving to create many meaningful stage activities for the public; contributed to creating a rich and healthy cultural and spiritual life; encouraged all people to unite and strive for the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland, building Binh Duong into a smart city.

Reported by Thuc Van-Translated by Kim Tin