Artists give their all on stage.
Held for the second time in the Kinh Bac region – a land steeped in folk songs and traditional arts – the National Cheo Festival became a grand celebration for those who share a passion for Cheo art. Twelve professional art troupes from across the country presented 21 meticulously staged plays, covering diverse themes from historical traditions and revolutionary struggles to contemporary life, with the participation of nearly 1,000 professional artists and actors.
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The Cheo Theatre of Dong region, Hai Phong city, with the performance "Love Story by the River". |
Bringing a youthful spirit and intense emotion to the festival, artist Nguyen Thi Thu Hue (Eastern Cheo Theatre, Hai Phong city) moved the audience to tears with her portrayal of Mai in the play "Love Story by the River." The forbidden love story, hampered by the prejudice of "socially equal status," was expressed with great emotion through the language of Cheo art. Sharing her feelings after brilliantly completing the role, artist Thu Hue was still visibly moved: "When playing Mai, I lived with the character, experiencing the intense love and the pain of their forbidden love. Standing on stage, I felt I didn't need to act anymore; I truly embodied the character with all my genuine emotions. Seeing the audience shed tears for my character made me even more aware of the need to strive harder."
Traditional artists are constantly striving to create so that each performance touches the hearts of today's audience with the power of intimacy and profound humanistic spirit. As Dr. Le Tuan Cuong, People's Artist and Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Traditional Theatre, affirmed: "True art comes from life and must return to serve life. Think of Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) as something simple yet greatest, like a mother's lullaby that everyone knows without being taught. Respecting the audience, focusing on the audience, and touching the audience's emotions are what we traditional artists are particularly concerned about." More than just a professional gathering, the festival also honors the dedication and creative aspirations of those who preserve the soul of national art in the era of integration.
Audiences are captivated by the rhythm of the traditional Vietnamese opera drums.
If the artists give their all on stage, the audience is the one who keeps that flame burning. For the people of Bac Ninh in particular, and the public who love traditional Vietnamese opera (cheo) in general, the festival is an opportunity for them to be moved by cheo, to watch, to feel, and to be captivated by the vibrant and heartfelt sounds of drums, stringed instruments, and singing. On the opening night, the Provincial Cultural and Exhibition Center was packed with spectators. Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Du, 70 years old, from Phu My 2 residential area, Bac Giang ward, said: "I don't know how to sing cheo, but I've loved it since I was a child. Now, seeing professional artists perform in my hometown, I'm even more moved. When the actors laugh, I laugh; when they cry, I cry too."
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The audience watched intently as each scene unfolded. |
Rarely having the opportunity to see famous artists perform in person, Mrs. Giap Thi Duyen (Bac Giang ward) memorizes the performance schedules of most art troupes. She confided: "My house is nearby, and for the past few days, I've been taking my grandchild to watch Cheo performances every day. My daughter-in-law and son go to work during the day, and in the evening they come with me to watch the Cheo Festival. My whole family is captivated by the Cheo melodies."
Having been passionate about traditional Vietnamese opera (chèo) since childhood, even though she has lived in Germany for over 20 years, Ms. My Le, originally from Tu Ky, Hai Phong city, still frequently returns to Vietnam whenever there are chèo festivals or performances. Over the past few days, she has been in Bac Ninh to watch all the performances. She confided: "Living abroad, I still have a deep affection for chèo art. I studied chèo singing with Ms. Mai Thuy, Mr. Song Thuong, Mr. Mai Van Lang... This time, being able to come to my homeland in Kinh Bac to listen to chèo performances, I cried with happiness."
These genuine emotions prove that traditional Vietnamese opera (chèo) has become an indispensable part of the Vietnamese soul, a beloved call from memory and homeland. It's heartening to see that the audience included not only elderly people but also many young faces. Bui Dac Nhat, 25, from An Thi (Hung Yen), shared: "This is the first time I've watched a full two-hour chèo performance. The more I watched, the closer chèo felt, like listening to my grandmother tell a fairy tale. After this experience, I will learn more about our nation's traditional art form..."
Amidst the chilly days of Kinh Bac, the sound of the traditional opera drums and heartfelt songs warms the hearts of the audience. The distance between artists and spectators disappears, leaving only moments of sublime love and faith in the enduring vitality of traditional art. The festival will eventually end, but the flame of passion will burn brightly in the hearts of the artists, and the echoes of the opera melodies will continue to resonate in the beloved land of Kinh Bac – where kindred spirits met in a reunion filled with human warmth and a love for art.
Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/lien-hoan-cheo-toan-quoc-nam-2025-tai-bac-ninh-noi-gap-go-cua-nhung-tam-hon-dong-dieu-postid429754.bbg
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