HCM CITY (VNS)— Tran Huu Trang Theatre's cai luong (reformed opera) play Chiec Ao Thien Nga (Swan Coat) has won the HCM City's Literature and Art Award for 2012.

The awards are given every five years.

Chiec Ao Thien Nga is based on popular Vietnamese legend No Than (The Magic Crossbow) set during the reign of Kinh An Duong Vuong in the third century BC.

The 120-minute play depicts the star-crossed love story of the King's daughter My Chau.

It is about the doomed relationship between Chau and her husband Trong Thuy, the son of her father's enemy King Trieu Da, who are married off to improve relations between the two kingdoms.

Chau shows Thuy her father's magic crossbow which protects the country from aggressors.

Thuy steals the bow and returns to his country. When her father discovers the truth, Chau kills herself.

Hundreds of artists from cai luong, dance, music, and design came together to create the masterpiece.

The highlights of the play were its powerful but melodious singing and outstanding stagecraft.

Its director, Hoa Ha, used music by the city's 80-member Symphony Orchestra under the skilled baton of Tran Vuong Thach.

The jury chose Chiec Ao Thien Nga for the award from among dozens of works staged in the city by both State-funded and private troupes.

It gave away awards to 50 other works in literature, architecture, photography, music, films, and fine arts created between 2006 and 2011.

The award for literature went to Mua He Gia Buot (Cold Summer), a contemporary novel by Van Le of the city's writers' association.

The movie award went to People's Artist Dao Ba Son's Long Thanh Cam Gia Ca (A Song about Musician in Thang Long Citadel).

The awards honour and encourage local artists to make quality works on serious topics. — VNS