The land of the South appears truly beautiful.

The poetry and music night "Songs of Affection," featuring the musical portraits of composer Lu Nhat Vu and poet Le Giang, was packed with audience members. Music lovers returned, reminiscing about the gentle memories of their youth, feeling as if they were meeting old friends who were both familiar and unfamiliar, and leaving with a sense of lingering affection.

Trong Phuc and the Song of the Southern Land

PHOTO: HK

This talented artist couple left behind a vast treasure trove for the arts, from poetry to music, research, and collections… During the concert (December 28th at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House), the audience mainly encountered his music, and those in their 80s, 70s, 60s, and 50s spontaneously sang along softly when the singers began to perform. The melodies and lyrics were so familiar, ingrained in their hearts since their youth. "We light a fire to keep the barren hills warm forever. We promise you'll come and find the old footprints again…", "The army marches on the forest path. The dawn glitters on the distant horizon…", "Birds sing, birds sing by the forest stream calling. We set out on our journey, our shoulders heavy…", "A thousand flowers offered to You. A thousand songs of heartfelt love…", "I still wait for you to return. Like a sail waiting for the wind. Like the blue sky waiting for birds…", "Climbing the starfruit tree and shaking it. The starfruit falls with a crash, I don't know whose starfruit it is…", "Holding a cup of peach wine in both hands. Half drunk, half sober, I tumble into the river…" Especially the Song of the Southern Land , which is so popular that even teenagers know it, opened the program like a quick handshake connecting generations.

Bich Phuong and Quoc Dai with Ly Cay Khe

PHOTO: HK

Nguyen Phi Hung with "Rest assured, Mother"

PHOTO: HK

Van Khanh sings beside the Ho Chi Minh monument.

PHOTO: HK

From solemn to cheerful songs, children's songs, folk songs... all reflect the familiar, down-to-earth Southern style of Lu Nhat Vu. And the South suddenly appears in a picture encompassing peace, war, simplicity, affection, joy, and pride… Most interestingly, the war in the music is just heroic enough without being overly dramatic, making it very pleasant to listen to. And director Binh Hung's staging is just solemn enough yet approachable; the soldiers in their green uniforms perform beautiful military-style dances that are strangely captivating. That's why revolutionary music easily reaches young audiences. Many performances, even with simple traditional Vietnamese clothing, feel elegant. It was truly a worthy evening at a theater considered a cultural symbol of a major city.

Composer Lu Nhat Vu and poet Le Giang

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dat-phuong-nam-hien-ra-that-dep-185251231173124778.htm