Viet Nam News
HCM CITY — Millions of theatre lovers in HCM City and Mekong River Delta provinces have been entertained by traditional music programmes on HCM City Television (HTV).
Since its first show in 2006, Chuong Vang Vong Co (Nostalgia Golden Bell), one of HTV’s most popular music programmes, has supported dozens of young talents, helping them develop their career in cai luong (renovated opera).
The programme has also offered new theatre concepts.
While audiences are interested in the art, young actors are focused on a man behind the show -- renowned theatre researcher, director and producer Kieu Tan.
Tan, former head of HTV’s Theatre and Music Unit, has worked in the industry more than 40 years.
Before 1975 he worked as a cultural researcher for the Institute of Music Research led by composer Luu Huu Phuoc. Tan wrote several documents and books on Vietnamese southern music and instruments.
One of his works, Cay Dan Ghi Ta Phim Lom (A Vietnamese guitar with five strings), was translated and published in Europe in 1997.
“After being involved in research, I began to understand how knowledge and experience in my writing had helped improve my ability in composing and producing," said Tan, referring to his migration to the stage in 1995 when he worked for HTV.
"I learned that theatre is life, while my research was useless. Directors and actors make their art lively and bring it to people in different ways," he said last month after releasing his latest production, Tuyen Tap Nhac: 80 Ca Khuc Kieu Tan (Collection of Kieu Tan’s 80 songs), a collection of CDs performed by famous artists.
"I wanted to write, compose and direct traditional music programmes filled with light, sound and visual effects," he said in a recent press interview.
An HTV producer, Tan has helped many young artistes improve their talent by training through performing.
Thanks to his shows, rural students and farmers, such as Vo Minh Lam, Le Van Gan, Vo Thanh Phe and Ho Ngoc Trinh, have become professional actors.
“Tan is a great man of cai luong,” said Phe, winner of the 2008 Chuong Vang Vong Co, a TV contest designed to support young talent in cai luong, launched by veteran HTV artistes, including Tan.
“Tan’s TV shows were a place for amateur and young artistes to perfect their voice and performance skills without going to school. He helped poor farmers like me believe that theatre can open a future for everyone, poor or rich, old or young,” he added.
Tan has worked with music producers to release albums combining cai luong and pop music to attract young audiences.
Young people have enjoyed his songs based on cai luong such as Van Xuan (Springs), Sai Gon Nang Sai Gon Mua (Sai Gon - Rain and Shine) and Da Khuc Buom Hoa (Serenade of Flowers and Butterflies).
Most of his works are stories about love and youth. They have helped young singers like Van Khanh, Ho Trung Dung, Nhu Y and Ho Bich Ngoc become popular.
“I love singing songs composed by Tan because his music is based on traditional tunes,” said pop star Dam Vinh Hung, who performed on Tan’s album Noi Buon Tram Nam (100 Years of Sadness), a production distributed by Phuong Nam Film.
Tan said, “I’m very interested in working with young actors. I believe that they will help to preserve traditional music and theatre, including cai luong.” — VNS