In a small house nestled in Group 6, Yen Nghia Ward ( Hanoi ), the warm, soothing voice of an 83-year-old artist resonates. This is Meritorious Artist Luu Thi Kim Lien – a woman with a thin frame and gray hair, but whose eyes remain sharp, filled with aspirations and love for ca trù (traditional Vietnamese singing). Few know that beneath that quiet exterior lies a life of constant rest, an artist, a living witness to the traditional art of ca trù.

A late-blooming love for art

Visiting the esteemed artist Luu Thi Kim Lien on an autumn day, we were impressed by her house overflowing with medals and awards. The walls of her house have become a display space, where the medals, certificates, and awards are arranged respectfully, like a glorious chronicle marking her tireless dedication to the art of Ca Tru singing.

We browsed through her "collection," her certificates of merit for her contributions to education , trade unions, women's liberation, and population development. Among them, she lingered longer on the title of "Outstanding Ca Tru Artist" that she had recently been awarded (in 2019). "It's a late but precious opportunity," she smiled, joy evident in her eyes.

Each of these awards and medals is the soul and glorious memory of Ms. Lien's artistic life.

Ms. Luu Thi Kim Lien was born in 1942 into a farming family, but both her parents had a deep love for folk art. It was in that cozy home that she grew up surrounded by nursery rhymes and her mother's lullabies. These simple lullabies instilled in the young Kim Lien a profound love for music , igniting her passion from her very first steps in life.

Immersed in her mother's folk melodies, Lien's innate artistic talent grew stronger as she got older. "I knew how to sing when I started school at the age of six. I sang folk songs and traditional opera, not ca trù (a type of Vietnamese folk singing), but I listened to them so much that they seeped into me without me even realizing it," she recounted.

In 1958, the first Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) troupe from the National Opera and Drama School in the North came to Ha Nam to select actors. “The entire province of Ha Nam (formerly) had 240 applicants, but only four were chosen, including me,” she said, her eyes still shining with pride.

Just when the dream of performing on stage seemed within reach, the tuition fees weighed heavily on the young woman's artistic aspirations. At this point, her voice softened: "My family is poor, and my parents are old. I tried to borrow money, but no one could lend me any. Everyone is struggling like me." She sighed softly, her eyes gazing into the distance. "So I had to go back... I regret it so much. I had the opportunity but didn't seize it."

At the age of 83, Meritorious Artist Luu Thi Kim Lien still retains her unwavering love for ca trù (traditional Vietnamese singing).

For thirty years, standing on the giảng platform (at Mộ Lao Primary School, from 1961 to 1989...), she still kept the flame of an artist within her. “Throughout thirty years of teaching, I’ve still sung beautifully,” she smiled, her passion shining in eyes that had weathered so many years. “I participated in all the art competitions for teachers and the education department; I still love the arts. I just never thought I’d return to ca trù (traditional Vietnamese singing).”

Leaving behind the chalk and blackboard, she returned to ca trù (traditional Vietnamese singing) not just as a hobby, but as a way of rediscovering herself, with the heart and experiences of a lifetime filled with both joy and sorrow. The sounds of the clappers and stringed instruments today are no longer a youthful dream, but a continuation of a love refined over time, quiet, enduring, yet never extinguished.

The heartfelt voices of those who "keep the flame alive"

The journey of "keeping the flame alive" by Meritorious Artist Luu Thi Kim Lien is truly a story steeped in love and unwavering determination. At her advanced age, this artist still spends her days and nights passionately dedicated to the melodic nuances and rhythmic patterns of traditional Vietnamese art. Ms. Lien confided that learning ca trù (traditional Vietnamese singing) is very difficult; it takes three months to master the clappers and three years to learn even a few melodies. Every night, the elderly artist patiently and meticulously guides her students, from young people to older adults, in each rhythm, breath control, and enunciation.

Ms. Kim Lien dedicated her life to ca trù (traditional Vietnamese singing), creating impressive stages and songs. (Photo provided by the subject)

She said, "Ca trù is an art form that requires investment, meticulousness, and is very difficult and elaborate to learn. Nowadays, young people often just want to learn quickly and hastily. But the soul and essence of ca trù cannot be learned superficially like that."

Those words sounded like a heavy sigh. The lack of people who genuinely wanted to commit themselves to the difficulties and hardships of the profession weighed heavily on her mind.

Distinguished Artist Luu Thi Kim Lien shares her passion for Ca Tru (traditional Vietnamese singing) with a wide audience.

The rhythms and melodic nuances have become ingrained in her very being, silently bearing witness to her profound love and enduring dedication. Amidst a world rushing after new values, this elderly artist continues to quietly sow the seeds of ca trù (traditional Vietnamese singing), diligently teaching each note and rhythm. Her only hope is that this exquisite heritage will find its rightful place, be accepted, and be passed on.

And so, along the village road, the light from Mrs. Lien's house continues to shine brightly every evening, welcoming generations of students who come to learn about ca trù (traditional Vietnamese singing). Nearly 30 years have passed since she resolutely returned to her passion, and that light has never once gone out; instead, it seems to shine even brighter than ever, like the very flame of heritage that she is wholeheartedly preserving.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/nghe-nhan-uu-tu-luu-thi-kim-lien-tham-lang-neo-giu-tinh-hoa-ca-tru-925887