Viet Nam News
HCM CITY – Meritorious Artist Phuong Quang, a star of cai luong (reformed opera), died Friday (July 13) in HCM City after five years of illness from degenerative brain disease. He was 76.
Ton Quang Bao, Quang’s eldest son, said his father pledged to donate his body for medical research to Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University after death.
Quang, whose real name is To Van Quang, was born in Song Be Province (now Binh Duong Province).
As a child, he admired People’s Artist Ut Tra On and studied cai luong singing by listening to On’s performances on local radio programmes.
When he was 18, he moved to Sai Gon (now HCM City) to study music with composer and musician Van Con, who discovered his talent.
Quang later worked for Kim Thanh and Kim Chuong, who were famous cai luong troupes in the South at that time.
With a strong voice and appearance, he gained fame by playing heroic roles.
His favourite plays included Hai chieu ly biet (Farewell Evening), Mat troi dem (Midnight Sun), Nguoi nhan trang (White Bird Man), and Suong gio biet vuong cung (Waves at the Palace).
In 1966, he won best actor from Thanh Tam Awards for his leading role in the play Tinh Nao Cho Em (Love for You). Thanh Tam was the most prestigious cai luong award at the time, given by Tieng Doi (Echo) newspaper from 1958-1968.
Quang became a bright star in the 1970s. In 1983, he joined Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre, the leading troupe in the South, and played a leading role in Nang Xe-Da (Xe-Da – The Pretty Woman).
The play was staged from 1983 to 1993 with 1,500 performances across the country. It was broadcast many times on television stations in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region.
He also performed in Tinh yeu va loi dap (Love and Response), winning the Golden Prize for best actor at the National Professional Theatre Festival in 1985.
The artist’s family held a commemoration ceremony at his house in District 7 on July 14 with veteran cai luong artists like People’s Artist Bach Tuyet, Meritorious Artist Thanh Vy, and Le Thuy. – VNS