People's Artist Thu Hien still practices singing, dancing, and performing Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) every day.
Watching the artists of Thai Binh Cheo Theatre stage a traditional play, People's Artist Thu Hien fondly recalled the day she first "became involved" with and became attached to the profession.
She recounted that, born and raised in Phong Chau commune (Dong Hung district) - one of the province's famous traditional opera villages - she participated in the village's opera performances from a young age. Guided and instructed meticulously by generations of artisans from Khuoc village, she practiced every dance and song for two years. When the Thai Binh Traditional Opera Troupe came to recruit, she decided to leave her hometown and dedicate herself to the art of traditional opera. In the early days of joining the troupe at a young age, she faced many difficulties and uncertainties, but all of them were met with effort and perseverance to mature and "acquire her skills." Despite the hardships, there were times when she was fortunate enough to be offered leading roles, but due to a lack of confidence, she resolutely refused them.
More than 60 years have passed, and recalling the memories of her early days joining the troupe, People's Artist Thu Hien still silently thanks the generations of artists who diligently guided and "ignited" her passion for art, enabling her to always strive to improve and showcase her full potential in the tasks assigned to her.
People's Artist Thu Hien shared: "During my years working in professional Cheo theater, I participated in rehearsals and performed hundreds of roles, but looking back, the most unforgettable memories are the role of Thi Kinh in the classic Cheo play 'Quan Am Thi Kinh' and the role of Co Dao in the play 'Co Gai Lang Cheo,' both of which won gold medals at the national festival. These are both leading female roles in Cheo. Perhaps because of the suitability and the certain successes that left a lasting impression on the public, throughout my career, I have always played leading female roles, maintaining that image on the Cheo stage."
Attending many performances by artists and actors of the Thai Binh Cheo Theatre today always evokes a sense of nostalgia and emotion in People's Artist Thu Hien. Amidst the profound atmosphere of traditional art, the audience seems to share in the joys, sorrows, and emotions on stage, bringing back memories of her days touring with her colleagues in various localities, serving the needs of the people for Cheo art.
In those days, transportation was inconvenient. To get to the performance venue, the artists in the troupe would either pull boats on the river or push carts. Meals before performances were always rushed to ensure the stage was ready and makeup was applied. Each performance lasted 2-3 hours. After the show, they were hungry and exhausted, but the next day, the artists would wake up early to practice singing and acting tirelessly. Their passion for the profession became the driving force that motivated not only People's Artist Thu Hien but also the generation of artists of those years to dedicate themselves to acting, to those nights of passionate performances on stage amidst resounding applause and the attentive, eager eyes of the audience…
People's Artist Thu Hien shared: "There was a period when the public seemed to lose interest in Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera). I felt very sorry for the younger generation of artists because performing with few audience members is a huge loss for an artist. Currently, it's encouraging that more and more audiences of all ages, not only middle-aged people but also teenagers and children, are dedicating their time to Cheo theaters to watch various artistic programs, plays, and excerpts from classic Cheo performances. Sitting beside them, seeing the passion in their eyes while watching Cheo performances, I am happy that young people are gradually returning to traditional theater."
People's Artist Thu Hien practices Cheo dance with members of the Le Quy Don Club.
Deeply concerned about the nights the stage lights up, People's Artist Thu Hien spent a lot of time sharing her experiences, accumulated over decades of dedicated service to the arts. According to her, to perform well in a traditional Vietnamese opera (cheo), an artist needs to research the context in which the work was created. If the role is that of a historical figure, the actor needs to consult many official sources to understand the character's background, career, and life stories. Only then can they truly embody the role in the most appropriate and authentic way. In addition, diligent practice is essential, because besides rehearsals with the entire troupe on stage, not only she but also her fellow artists dedicate significant time to contemplating and reflecting on their roles.
“The constant question was, 'How can I express myself even better? How can I make the audience cry, laugh, rejoice, and feel happy along with my performance?' A whole generation of artists back then lived and dedicated themselves to art in this way, which is why the Thai Binh Cheo troupe enjoyed years of fame and numerous tours, reaching audiences not only domestically but also internationally,” said People's Artist Thu Hien.
People's Artist Thu Hien bid us farewell as her rehearsal with the performing arts group at the Le Quy Don Club was about to begin. Now 78 years old, she shared that the art of Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) has given her so much, not only years of passionate dedication on stage, the love and respect of the audience, and the honor of her prestigious title, but also good health. Every time she practices singing, dancing, and performing Cheo, the spirit of an artist is invigorated and refreshed.
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