Viet Nam News
HA NOI — The Vietnamese tuong (classical opera) performance Ong Gia Cong Vo Di Xem Hoi (Old Man Carries His Wife on His Back to Festival) will open a night of traditional art at Hong Ha Theatre in downtown Ha Noi on September 18.
The 10-minute piece will be performed by Meritorious Artist Kieu Oanh from the Viet Nam Tuong Theatre. The performance features an old man carrying his young wife to a spring festival. During the journey, he is teased and mocked by a mandarin’s son. The old man fights back and is able to protect his love.
In this piece artist Kieu Oanh performs two characters – the old man and the young wife. This is designed to make the performance more interesting and stimulate the audience’s imagination.
Ong Gia Cong Vo Di Xem Hoi is a milestone in artist Oanh’s career. She has done the piece many times since she started tuong. "The piece is a fun folk tale and it is usually performed to open a traditional art show," said Kieu Oanh.
"The most difficult part for me was to divide myself between the old man and his young wife. I had to make the under part of my body shaky like an old man, while the upper part I had the voice of the young wife," Kieu Oanh said.
The performance has toured many countries such as France, Germany, India and Russia.
The night will also highlight Ho Nguyet Co Hoa Cao – another typical tuong performance. The piece tells the story of a magical lady who falls in love with a young general.
Apart from humanist values, it is hoped that audiences can appreciate the harmony of singing, dancing, music and acting in the performance. Two young artists, Do Quyen and Tran Long, will play the roles in Ho Nguyet Co Hoa Cao.
During the night, audiences will enjoy two nha nhac (court music) pieces entitled Dai Nhac (Major Music) and Tieu Nhac (Minor Music). Established in the 13th century, nha nhac had been increasingly developed and refined and has become professional since the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945).
Dai Nhac was often performed at festivals, announcements of royal births, funerals and religious ceremonies whilst Tieu Nhac, with elegant and lighthearted music, was often performed at royal banquets, national ceremonies and during the Lunar New Year. Tieu Nhac is not as formal as Dai Nhac.
Other Vietnamese traditional arts including xam (blind buskers singing); ca tru (ceremonial music) and hau dong (trance ritual) will be performed. The event is being co-organised by the Viet Nam Tuong Theatre and the Ha Noi Academy of Theatre and Cinema to introduce traditional Vietnamese art to foreign diplomatic corps in Ha Noi. — VNS