Le Hoang Nghi - "Golden Bell Award for Cai Luong" in 2024.
"Golden Bell of Cai Luong" is a talent search competition for Cai Luong and Vong Co (traditional Vietnamese opera) performers, organized by Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) since 2006. Over 20 years, it has truly been a platform for stage talents to pursue their passion, showcase their abilities, and contribute new, strong talents to the Cai Luong stage. According to Mr. Tran Hien Phuong, Deputy Head of the Arts Department - HTV, and one of the founders of the competition, "Golden Bell of Cai Luong" was created with the idea of organizing a non-specialized competition, similar to the Tran Huu Trang Award, with a television version, providing opportunities for talented young people. One of the reasons for this idea was Mr. Phuong's visit to the home of People's Artist Minh Vuong, where he saw the "Vong Co Champion" award that People's Artist Minh Vuong had won at the young age of 14.
In 2006, the "Golden Bell of Traditional Vietnamese Opera" rang out for the first time, with the crowning of Vo Minh Lam, a young man from Tay Do (Can Tho), at the young age of 17. With his charisma and confidence on stage, everyone predicted he would "ring the golden bell forever," and that prediction has proven completely true. Vo Minh Lam has been awarded the title of Meritorious Artist and is a prominent figure in the stage today. He is also a coach for the 2025 "Golden Bell of Traditional Vietnamese Opera," continuing to inspire the younger generation.
Over the past 20 years of the "Golden Bell of Cai Luong" competition, Can Tho has left a clear mark as the hometown and nurturing ground for the passion of numerous "Golden Bell" and "Silver Bell" winners. Besides Vo Minh Lam, there are Thu Van, Trung Dang, Huyen Trang, Kim Cuong, Nhu Y… Most recently, Le Hoang Nghi, a student from the Can Tho College of Culture and Arts, was crowned the winner of the "Golden Bell of Cai Luong" in 2024.
The competition also served as a launching pad for the talents of many artists, who have now achieved many prestigious titles such as People's Artist Ho Ngoc Trinh, Meritorious Artist Ngoc Doi, Meritorious Artist Vo Minh Lam, Meritorious Artist Thu Van, Meritorious Artist Vo Thanh Phe, Meritorious Artist Minh Ly… And now, they have become coaches and judges, continuing to "sift through the sand to find gold" for the Cai Luong stage from the "Golden Bell of Cai Luong".
The documentary "The Golden Bell Shines Brightly" recounts the journey of a prestigious competition from its early days to its 20-year history. The production team met with and listened to the thoughts of those who have built the competition's reputation over the past 20 years. Viewers were moved by the shared experiences of late veteran artists who were involved with the competition, such as Professor Tran Van Khe, People's Artist Diep Lang, and People's Artist Thanh Tong; and artists who remain dedicated to the competition today, such as People's Artist Minh Vuong, People's Artist Bach Tuyet, and People's Artist Thanh Tuan… The film also tells the story of the "behind-the-scenes" efforts that contributed to the competition's success, such as the musicians, who silently contributed to the contestants' performances. Meritorious Artist Hoang Thanh recounted: "Seeing the contestants not yet in sync with the orchestra, we were very sad and worried, we didn't want to eat, we just focused on practicing diligently to help the contestants' performances improve."
More than just a tribute to the past, the documentary "Golden Bell Shines Brightly" also raises questions about the future of the competition, asking: How can Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) continue to shine and reach young audiences in the digital age?
| The documentary "Golden Bell Shines Brightly" by director Le Thi Thuy Trang is broadcast on the HTVm app and other digital platforms of TFS Film Studio. |
Text and photos: DANG HUYNH
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/20-nam-chuong-vang-toa-sang--a191465.html
