Art program "Hat Boi with Traditional Music"

On the evening of October 25, at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street stage (Sai ​​Gon ward, Ho Chi Minh City), the Ho Chi Minh City Hat Boi Art Theater in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Book Street Company Limited organized a special art program "Hat Boi with traditional music".

Artist Bao Chau (left) and artist Thanh Binh in a scene from "Hero Truong Dinh". Photo: THUY BINH

The art program, held over two evenings on October 25th and 26th at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street stage, aims to promote, preserve, and develop the unique values ​​of the traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi) art form to a wide audience in Ho Chi Minh City and international tourists.

The program provides a brief introduction to the origins, formation, and development of the art of traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi) in cultural and social life from the past to the present. It is a long-standing traditional theatrical art form of the Vietnamese people, associated with the names of historical figures who contributed to the development of hat boi, such as Dao Duy Tu, Dao Tan, and General Le Van Duyet…

Artist Kieu My and young artists from the Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Opera Theatre perform the piece "Village Temple Festival" to open the art program "Traditional Opera with Folk Music ". Photo: THUY BINH

One of the most distinctive features of Vietnamese classical opera (hat boi) is the art of facial makeup. Each color on the character's face reflects the personality, characteristics, destiny, and role of the character in each play.

Furthermore, the music, composed of a combination of various traditional percussion, string, and wind instruments such as the đàn nguyệt (moon lute), concave-fretted guitar, leaf horn, đàn nhị (two-stringed fiddle), drums, and cymbals, also contributes to the special appeal of hát bội music, supporting artists in delivering captivating performances of content and dance on stage.

Artists from the Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Opera Theatre pose for a commemorative photo with a large audience. Photo: THUY BINH

Following explanations of the history and development of traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi) in community life, the significance of face makeup in plays representing typical characters in hat boi performances, an introduction to traditional musical instruments in the orchestra, and interaction with the audience, the artists of the Ho Chi Minh City Hat Boi Art Theatre enthusiastically performed various acts: Village Festival, traditional musical instrument ensemble, and excerpts from plays such as Hero Truong Dinh, Tran Quoc Toan, Emperor Le Dai Hanh, and Ho Nguyet Co transforming into a fox…

THUY BINH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/chuong-program-nghe-thuat-hat-boi-voi-am-nhac-dan-toc-post819961.html