A conference about traditional opera actor Van Tan has been held to praise his success in playing the role of President Ho Chi Minh over the past 40 years.— Photo baodaidoanket

HA NOI (VNS)— A conference about traditional opera actor Van Tan has been held to praise his success in playing the role of President Ho Chi Minh over the past 40 years.

Van Tan, born as Nguyen Van Tan in the northern province of Bac Giang, has set a national record in playing President Ho in traditional opera (cheo) with more than 1,700 performances.

There have also been 15 books, as well as 160 magazines and newspapers that published articles about his shows and praised his talents.

At the conference, Prof Hoang Chuong, director of the Centre for Research, Preserving and Bringing into Full Play Traditional Culture, noted that in the past decade, many artists in various art fields had played the late President to highlight his morals and thoughts.

Beside Van Tan, other names, such as Sy Hung, Duc Trung, Tien Hoi and Tien Tho, also successfully played the President.

Even in his 60s, Tan continued composing songs, as he performed with artists from the Bac Giang Cheo Club during a play about President Ho in 2008.

"His acting was praised by people from various localities when the Viet Nam Theatre Institute's artists gave performances in 1992," said Le Tien Tho, chairman of the Viet Nam Theatrical Artists' Association.

Also, actor Le Chuc noted that Tan's success was partly due to his appearance, which looked very much like the President.

Over the years, Tan has received various honours, including a Medal for the Cause of Viet Nam Theatre, a Medal for the Cause of Viet Nam Literature and Arts and Dao Tan Prize for cheo artists. — VNS