The land of traditional theater resounds with the sound of drums.

BAC NINH - Amidst the modern pace of life and the ever-increasing variety of entertainment options, traditional Vietnamese opera (tuong) remains an indispensable art form in the spiritual life of the people of Kinh Bac - Bac Ninh. Every time Tet (Lunar New Year) arrives, the resounding sounds of war drums and ceremonial drums invite the opera stage to light up again to serve the audience.

Busy preparing to welcome the spring.

In Tien Bao (Phu Khe ward), the end of the year is also the time when members of the traditional opera club get into the swing of preparing for the upcoming performance season. At the house of Mr. Dam Van Duc - who is in charge of worshipping the patron saint of the profession and preserving costumes and props - the members of the Executive Board are discussing the performance schedule for the new spring season while rearranging the costumes, headdresses, and shoes. The imperial robes, red and purple robes are having their buttons re-attached, and every stitch and embroidery is being adjusted. Props, spears, swords, and drums are being cleaned and arranged. The play's repertoire is being reviewed, roles assigned, and rehearsals are underway...

A public performance by the Tien Bao Traditional Opera Club.

As a region with a long-standing tradition of traditional Vietnamese opera (tuồng), around the end of November and beginning of December in the lunar calendar, many localities in the area proactively contact "tuồng masters" to schedule performances for the people during the Lunar New Year. Artist Dam Xuan Trung, Chairman of the Tien Bao Tuong Club, shared: "By the end of the twelfth lunar month, we have basically finalized our performance schedule for the entire first and second months, and it only ends with the Giong Festival on the 9th day of the fourth lunar month. Bac Ninh is a land with many festivals, so spring is also the season for tuồng performances. Village festivals are the space that nurtures the art of tuồng. Every time Tet (Lunar New Year) comes around, whenever villages hold festivals, people ask if there will be a tuồng performance this year. In places like Dong Ky or Ninh Hiep, there have been years when we performed continuously for 8-10 shows. After serving the village festivals, we perform at ancestral temples, longevity celebrations, communal houses, and village gatherings..."

If performed in the same village, plays from the previous year will not be repeated. Therefore, the traditional opera club must prepare dozens of plays in advance for localities to choose from. This also means that the actors and actresses must memorize many plays, from traditional operas to historical and revolutionary plays; From classic plays like Son Hau, Trieu Dinh Long saving the king, and General Dao Tam Xuan… to historical and revolutionary plays such as: The Storm-Predicting Bird, Ly Cong Uan's Coronation, Ly Cong Uan Moving the Capital, and The Mother of Nguyen Van Cu... With nearly 45 years of experience in traditional Vietnamese opera, including 28 years as the head of the troupe, artist Dam Xuan Trung proudly says: "When asked about any role, we already have it in our heads, so we don't need much rehearsal. We just gather together once before the performance to agree on the roles, and whoever takes on a role practices it on their own, and on the day of the performance, they do their own makeup. Although we are not professionals, we perform about 50-70 shows each year, mainly at the beginning of spring."

Along with Tiến Bào, the Từ Sơn region also boasts other famous traditional opera troupes such as Tam Lư, Đồng Kỵ, Đa Hội, Đình Bảng... Here, the people not only love traditional opera but are also willing to contribute money, labor, and resources to "support" it. In particular, Tam Lư (Đồng Nguyên ward) once had many people who knew how to sing and perform traditional opera, earning it the nickname "land of the fake king." Tam Lư traditional opera originated in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, associated with the names of many renowned opera masters and artists such as the actors Ba Tuyên, Nhã, and Hán... In 1946, the Tam Lư opera troupe was established and flourished until 1984-1986. After a period of interruption, in 1992, Meritorious Artist Nguyễn Đức Tú, a professional actor of the Hà Bắc Opera Troupe, retired and returned to his hometown to re-establish the troupe. Since then, the Tam Lu Traditional Opera Club has been actively operating, winning many awards and medals with performances that have left a deep impression on the audience.

A deep desire to preserve the craft.

Mr. Dam Van Duc, a member of the Tien Bao Traditional Opera Club, said: "In Tien Bao village, about three-quarters of the households have someone who knows how to sing traditional opera. My family alone has had four generations continuing the craft. Currently, besides me, my brother, sister-in-law, children, and grandchildren are also active in the club."

Although each person has their own way of making a living—farmers, carpenters, traders, security guards in industrial zones, etc.—whenever they are called to perform in traditional Vietnamese opera, everyone is enthusiastic and ready to put aside their personal affairs. Without a grand stage or modern sound and lighting, opera, with its highly stylized nature, opens up an entire artistic world through body language, dance, lyrics, and music . It is this conciseness and rich symbolism that gives opera its enduring appeal, making even those who know the plays by heart want to watch them again and again...

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Duc Tu, Vice Chairman of the Theater Branch of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association and Head of the Dong Nguyen Traditional Opera Club, affirmed: The current generation of traditional opera artists in Bac Ninh is truly a golden generation. They love their profession, are passionate about it, and are self-reliant and financially independent. Persistently overcoming all difficulties, the traditional opera clubs have actively operated and experienced strong development in both organizational scale and artistic quality. Through this, they serve the people's need for cultural and spiritual enjoyment while making a practical contribution to the creation, preservation, and promotion of the nation's traditional cultural heritage.

The art of traditional Vietnamese opera (tuong) is inherently elaborate and arduous. The training process is challenging, and investing in staging new plays requires significant time and effort. Artist Dam Xuan Trung laments: While the audience for tuong remains large and the art form still thrives, finding truly dedicated young successors is extremely difficult. Previously, Tien Bao's children's tuong class trained over 20 children, but upon reaching adulthood, most have pursued other careers, leaving only 2-3 to continue the profession. Currently, the Tien Bao Tuong Club has over 20 members, aged 35 to 70, with the core group all over 60. "Like me, at 69, I still have to go on stage, playing leading roles, directing, and practically shouldering all the related responsibilities…" – Artist Dam Xuan Trung expressed.

Overcoming challenges, with the enduring passion of the artisans, the talent and dedication of the performers, and the appreciation of the community, the sound of the ceremonial drums still resonates every time Tet (Lunar New Year) comes around, contributing to preserving and spreading the cultural heritage of our homeland.

Thanh Lam

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/dat-tuong-vang-tieng-trong-chau-postid437490.bbg