Artist Trang Bich Lieu at the altar of artist Thanh Tu
On November 14, artist Trang Bich Lieu said she had a quiet but loving birthday when she turned 80. "My family only organized an intimate meal because my children are also busy with many things. They can arrange for me to have a reunion with friends of the same age such as: Thoai Mieu, Thanh Vy, Bo Bo Hoang, To Kim Hong, Tu Trinh, My Chi, Bich Hanh, Thanh Nguyet, Quoc Nhi, Hung Minh, Phuong Binh, Kieu Phuong Loan, Minh Vuong, Kieu Tien, Dieu Hien, Phuong Hong Ngoc... in the nearest day" - Artist Trang Bich Lieu said.
She said her simple dream was to meet friends and chat. "They are people who love Thanh Tu. Especially Kim Cuong, the artist who every year the "Artist Tri Am" organization has gifts for Thanh Tu and me" - she said emotionally.
The audience still loves Trang Bich Lieu
She is a female artist who was once known as the "young actress of the new wave" of Saigon's reformed opera in the 1970s. This year she celebrates her birthday surrounded by her family. Although she lacks her colleagues and the audiences who still remember her sweet voice, she believes she will arrange a meaningful reunion at the age of 80.
From left to right: People's Artist Trang Bich Lieu, People's Artist Kim Cuong and People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi
But alongside the joy of entering her eighties, there is still an irreplaceable void: the longing for her life partner - artist Thanh Tu, who played Nhuan Dien in "Ben Cau Det Lua" - who passed away more than three years ago.
Talking about her husband, she said quietly: "Since he passed away, I have been very sad. Many people invited me to sing but I could not go. Every time I sang, I remembered him and cried, how could I sing... Thank you, Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, for the program "Mai Vang Nhan Ai" for giving me and Thanh Tu meaningful gifts. Last November 7 was the day that Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper gave me "Mai Vang Nhan Ai", which was considered the most meaningful 80th birthday gift" - Artist Trang Bich Lieu said.
"I didn't expect that after attending the Art Exchange program, many newspapers wrote about me and the audience gave me many compliments and encouragement. I was very touched. Thank you to the Golden Apricot Award organizers," she said.
Trang Bich Lieu 3 years without standing on stage, loneliness is great
During their lifetime, artists Trang Bich Lieu and Thanh Tu always went together as a beautiful couple of artists of the Cai Luong stage. They sang together, toured together, and supported each other in each role. When he was sick, she took care of him for 16 years.
When he passed away, she felt like she had lost half of her life. In a recent art program, when she was invited to sing the excerpt "By the Silk Weaving Bridge", the audience fell silent when she heard her voice. Still as sweet as ever, still trembling with emotion like a sound coming from the memories of a golden age.
But behind that shining moment were tears. "It's been a long time since I've been on stage. Every time I sing, I miss him... so I can't sing. I'm afraid of running out of breath, afraid of standing alone..." - she recounted, choking up.
From left to right: Artist Ha My Xuan, director Thanh Hiep, Artist Tu Trinh, Thanh Vy and Trang Bich Lieu
At the age of 80, artist Trang Bich Lieu is still lucid, only has aching bones and joints, her health is "sometimes good, sometimes a little tired", but her professional spirit is still intact. At home, she still occasionally hums a few vọng cổ verses "to ease her longing for the profession" and ease the loneliness of an artist's life in the afternoon.
Trang Bich Lieu was a student of many famous teachers.
A lifetime of art nurtured by famous teachers, she considers herself lucky to have been taught the craft by stage icons such as: People's Artist Phung Ha, People's Artist Nam Chau, Duy Lan, Kim Cuc, Chin Trich, Nam Co...
Graduating from the Saigon National Drama School (1971), she was recruited by producer Diep Nam Thang to work at the Da Ly Huong troupe, which was the cradle of many talented golden generations of the reformed theater.
During her golden age on stage, she shone in a series of memorable roles in works that she still remembered as her time working at Tran Huu Trang Theater: "The Island of the Goddess of Venus", "Smoke and Waves of Tieu Tuong", "The Stage at Night", "Spring Night Dream", "The Shining Jade of Con Son"...
With her clear voice, graceful performance, youthful demeanor and serious learning spirit, she became "the young singer of the new wave" - an artistic phenomenon of the period.
Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong and Artist Trang Bich Lieu
Cherish everyday happiness
Behind the bright lights is a peaceful and warm life. She has a 39-year-old son named Tien who is currently a tour guide and a gentle daughter-in-law who runs a hair salon at home. She has two grandchildren who cling to her.
Family is the place that warms the artist's heart after months of loneliness due to losing her soulmate. She shared: "I am very lucky, my daughter-in-law takes care of my every meal and sleep, and my grandchildren love me. At this age, I just hope that I am healthy and my children and grandchildren are safe."
In the small house where friends and colleagues have been coming to celebrate the anniversary of Thanh Tu’s death for the past three years, she has hung old photos on the wall and always remembers him. She also keeps the duets of the couple that she has always cherished as priceless assets of her artistic life.
Every time she misses her husband, she watches the play "Spring Night Dream" that Golden Stage organizes, to "talk to him between two worlds ," she said emotionally.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/mung-tho-tuoi-80-nghe-si-trang-bich-lieu-mong-uoc-dieu-gi-196251115090254287.htm
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