Resounding "Immortal Epic"

Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong at the program's general rehearsal, from the Hang Duong Cemetery bridge, Con Dao

The TV show “Immortal Epic” will officially take place on the evening of July 19. The program will be broadcast live on VTV2, People’s Television, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Television, Dien Bien Television and provincial and municipal television stations.

Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong said that every year on the occasion of War Invalids and Martyrs Day, July 27, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism organizes art programs to pay tribute to heroic martyrs who have contributed to the country, demonstrating the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source".

This year, for the first time, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized a television program called "Immortal Epic". The special meaning has become the strength for the program's production team to overcome the harsh weather and remote geographical conditions to create an immortal epic, connecting two special places, from the paradise island, which was once "hell on earth" and Dien Bien, the place that made the nation's glorious victory, "becoming a red wreath and becoming a golden history". The program paid tribute to the sacrifices of the previous generations in the war to appreciate the value of independence and freedom today, thereby sending a message of the desire for peace to humanity.

“Overcoming all difficulties due to harsh weather, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has closely coordinated with the People's Committees of Dien Bien and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces to make efforts to bring a large force of artists, actors and nearly 600 tons of equipment to the island, along with a television crew to focus on making the program, as the most beautiful gratitude,” Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong emphasized.

Not recreating the pain of war with the sound of bombs and bullets, the scene of casualties on the battlefield, “The Immortal Heroic Song” is a tribute to the past with a different face. That is the beauty and nobility of sacred patriotism, of noble ideals, of youthful vitality, of revolutionary heroism, of pure but steadfast love, of genuine but deep comradeship and compatriots. The program also does not retell history in a linear sequence of events and numbers from the past to the present, but from a humane, romantic and very human perspective.

“From the two bridges of Con Dao and Dien Bien, viewers will be able to look back at the steadfast, heroic and sacrificial struggle for national independence and freedom of the past generations; along with the determination of today's generation who are joining hands to build the homeland, with a spirit of pride in the past and looking towards the future,” Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong affirmed.

The art program consists of three chapters: “The call of the country”; “Immortal petals”; “ Peace song”. A continuous flow from the past to the present, with the connecting thread being national pride, the heroic historical tradition of the country, gratitude for the great sacrifices of previous generations and the appreciation of the values of peace. At the bridge point of Hang Duong Cemetery, Con Dao, the hell on earth in the past, beside the candles of gratitude lit on the graves of heroic martyrs who fell for the Fatherland, the echoes of immortal melodies continue to resound, bringing intense emotions about a tragic yet heroic past in the prison - “school” in the middle of the ocean.

The first time singing in Con Dao, singer Trong Tan had an indescribable emotion. The medley "Uncle is marching with us", "Marching under the military flag" sung with Dang Duong, Viet Hoan and the song "Singing about you" have all been performed by the male singer many times. "However, next to the rows of graves in Hang Duong Cemetery, where there are thousands of graves of martyrs with and without names, I cried when singing the immortal lyrics and melodies, just like the names of heroic soldiers always live forever in the hearts of the nation", singer Trong Tan was moved.

As for Pham Thu Ha, this is the 8th time the singer has come to Con Dao, but this is the special time when the female singer has the opportunity to sing the eternal melodies in the art program "Immortal Heroic Song". The poignant lyrics of the song "Grateful to Ms. Vo Thi Sau" become even more poignant and touching when sung in this place, next to the grave of the nation's heroine. Thu Ha has also sung the song many times. Notably, in the album "Pham Thu Ha - Proud Melody" with 10 songs praising the homeland and country, there is also a song praising the patriotism and heroic spirit of the daughter of the red land.

Con Dao Prison was the largest and most severe prison, but it was also this place that communist prisoners turned into a school. The “hell on earth” became the nursery of generations of Vietnamese revolutionaries.

Along with the songs that have been with us for a long time, the program also has many emotional segments such as the reports Songs Through Steel Walls, School in the Middle of the Ocean . Years have passed, but tragic memories still remind today's generation of the message "life arises from death, happiness appears from hardships and sacrifices". Con Dao Prison is the largest and most severe prison, but it was also this place that communist prisoners turned into a school. "Hell on Earth" has become the nursery of generations of Vietnamese revolutionaries.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ni, the only female ex-prisoner still living in Con Dao, was moved to tears when remembering her comrades and the arduous and heroic years of fighting. “Humiliation, hunger, disease… all the harshest beatings in this hell on earth could not make us submit,” recalled former prisoner Nguyen Thi Ni.

Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong emphasized that the art program "Immortal Heroic Song" hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is an activity with profound humanistic meaning, a tribute to the heroes and martyrs who have devoted and sacrificed for national independence. Therefore, the program needs to be carried out in its entirety. The Deputy Minister requested the production team to continue to make efforts, promptly complete and overcome difficulties so that the program can take place smoothly, ensuring the quality of content and art, leaving a meaningful mark on the occasion of the anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day this year.

PHUONG ANH; photo: TRAN HUAN

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