People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi has passed away.

People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi (right) and his colleagues. (Photo taken from the work "Looking at the Southern Vietnamese Traditional Opera Stage"; Photo: Linh Bao)

According to information from the work "Looking at Southern Vietnamese Traditional Opera" by artist Dinh Bang Phi, People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi was born in 1938 in Dong Thap province. Before 1975, he was the head of the traditional opera class at the Saigon National School of Music and Drama (1969). He was awarded the Kim Khanh Prize in 1974 (the successor to the Thanh Tam Prize) with the title "Person who contributed to the traditional opera industry".

Since 1975, he has been an actor, playwright, director, and advisor to the Traditional Opera Troupe, later the Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Opera Theatre.

He was formerly a member of the Executive Committee of the Union of Literature and Arts Associations of Ho Chi Minh City; a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; and a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi (left cover).

Throughout his career in traditional Vietnamese opera, artist Dinh Bang Phi has performed as over 30 characters in traditional and modernized plays with themes from ancient stories, folk tales, and national history.

In particular, besides performing on stage, People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi also participates in thematic performances of traditional Vietnamese opera such as: interacting with the audience, talking about the profession, and the humor of the characters. He is also actively introducing the beauty of traditional Vietnamese opera to schools.

Artist Dinh Bang Phi is also the author of many traditional Vietnamese opera works such as: Tran Binh Trong's Suicide (1970, National Literature and Arts Award), Vuong Ta's Arm (1973, National Literature and Arts Award), Cao Ninh Thi Phu, Pham Ngu Lao Joins the Army, Dang Dai Do's Courage (1997, City Stage Scriptwriting Award 1998, Ho Chi Minh City Literature and Arts Award 1997-1999), Love and Treasure (2002, Stage Award 2003).

Documents and works by People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi were donated to the City's Traditional Opera Theatre.

He also devoted much time to collecting and perfecting many traditional plays such as: Tu Linh Hoi, Tieu Anh Phung, Luu Kim Dinh, Xu An Bang Quy Phi…

Artist Dinh Bang Phi is also the co-author of works such as: Nguyen Trai Entering Dong Quan (with Nguyen Hung), The Love Story of Bay Nui (with Nguyen Hung, 1986 Stage Script Award), The Unbreakable Gem (with Truong Huyen, 1995 National Professional Stage Performance Award), Vo Dong So - Bach Thu Ha (with Duc Hien, 2002 Stage Award), The Fox Man (with Le Duy Hanh)... He was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist by the State in 1993 and People's Artist in 2002.

Cover of the book "Looking at the Southern Vietnamese Traditional Opera Stage" by People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi.

People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi was a great author, a rare talent of Southern Vietnamese traditional opera (Hát Bội), and one of the leading figures of Vietnamese Hát Bội art. His entire life was dedicated to the stage, not only as an artist but also as a researcher and collector of documents.

On the occasion of this year's Ancestor Commemoration Day for the performing arts, artist Dinh Bang Phi donated all the research materials, books, newspapers, and magazines that he had dedicated his life to researching and collecting to the Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Opera Theatre. This is a valuable treasure trove of materials for future generations to continue to explore and promote the artistic value of traditional opera.

LINH BAO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nghe-si-nhan-dan-dinh-bang-phi-qua-doi-post932897.html