Ngoc Doi - Career as the name suggests

Singing well and acting well, Ngoc Doi is considered a rare young artist capable of replacing the golden generation of artists of the reformed theater.

When the "Golden Bell of Traditional Music 2018" contest, organized by Ho Chi Minh City Television, was holding its preliminary round in Can Tho City, artist Ngoc Doi was assigned by the organizers to play the role of Ut Luom in the play "Which instrument is for you" to perform to welcome this year's contest. She was the first contestant to win first prize in the "Golden Bell of Traditional Music" contest (2007), an award that has been in existence for 13 years, after being renamed from the "TV Star of Traditional Music" contest. Ut Luom is a role that praises the difficult life of the leading actress who rose from the art of amateur music. Ngoc Doi said that this character is somewhat similar to the beginning of her singing career.

Dreamed of being a leading actress since age 8

Many times before, following artists to Bac Lieu , I was introduced by playwright Trong Nguyen: "There is a girl in this land who sings very well." He was talking about Ngoc Doi. The author of the cai luong play "Giọt mưa oan han" had been a judge in many competitions, so he commented that Ngoc Doi would be a bright star, not unlike artist Ngoc Giau, who also sang vọng cổ songs fluently at the age of 8, became a leading actress at the age of 14, and won the Thanh Tam Gold Medal at the age of 17.

Ngoc Doi has an innate voice, a high-pitched breath filled with many levels of emotion. The rhythm seems to be in her blood, so just by singing, the listener is moved and captivated. Her father taught her the first vọng cổ verses when she was 8 years old. In addition to the time she learned from her father, Ngoc Doi self-studied by listening to tapes and CDs, collecting traditional songs and writing them down in a notebook to hum to herself. When she finished junior high school, Ngoc Doi already knew many traditional songs and many cải lương roles. "In particular, Ngoc Doi can sing many genres, especially the breath suitable for the sad tone that many adults may not be able to handle as well as her" - Meritorious Artist Thanh Kim Hue commented.

Ngoc Doi said she watched many roles of senior artists such as Thanh Nga, Le Thuy, Ngoc Giau, Bach Tuyet, My Chau, Phuong Lien... and learned their singing and acting, singing in front of the mirror herself.

When she had mastered 20 traditional songs, knew how to sing long breaths, and sang traditional songs, Ngoc Doi participated in mass performances from district to provincial levels. Every time she competed, she won high prizes. At the age of 16, she won first prize in the Cao Van Lau Cai Luong Singer Selection Contest. From this event, artist Minh Chien - Head of the Cao Van Lau Cai Luong Troupe - discovered Ngoc Doi's talent and invited her to join the troupe so that she could gradually realize her dream of becoming a leading actress. Ngoc Doi's artistic background already had many good roles, but with Ut Luom in the play "Which zither is for you", Ngoc Doi truly transformed.

The winner digs, the loser farms.

Composer Trong Nguyen said that although he taught his daughter to sing, Ngoc Doi's father understood the hardships and ingratitude of an artist's life, so he forbade his daughter from pursuing this career, only wanting her to participate in amateur arts for fun. However, when he heard Ngoc Doi present her dream, promising that after 3 years if she was not successful, she would return to farming and live a peaceful life with her family, her father accepted that agreement, "the winner will be a singer, the loser will be a farmer".

Artist Ngoc Doi Photo: Tuan Khanh

During the days of rehearsing for the role of Ut Luom, Ngoc Doi cried a lot. She said she saw somewhere in the character the shadow of her childhood. The 3-year deadline was a great pressure for Ngoc Doi when she entered the Cao Van Lau Cai Luong Troupe. That was the period when Cai Luong stages in the provinces began to have fewer audiences. To pursue her career, she had to work 3 times harder than young actors. The troupe created all the conditions for Ngoc Doi to rub shoulders with all kinds of roles. With a bright stage face and a smooth, high-pitched voice with a strong Southern accent, Ngoc Doi was very smart in creatively handling the song, so that the vọng cổ verses were not only sweet but also soaring. Ngoc Doi diligently read books, from prose works, to learn new things in the approach and analysis of character psychology. She said it was a very vivid world that helped her connect with the role.

In less than 2 years of joining the troupe, Ngoc Doi was assigned to take on many leading roles. Notably, Dieu Hien in the play "Two Drops of Water" portrayed the tragic fate of a girl facing painful losses. What the audience loved about Ngoc Doi was that she did not abuse melancholy. Therefore, in the tragedy of the fates of the characters she portrayed, there was still optimism and strong growth.

Therefore, when performing vọng cổ, she adheres to the standards of singing, adding creativity in the way of singing and vibrato, making vọng cổ fresh and youthful. Those are the outstanding factors that helped her win the first prize of "Golden Bell vọng cổ" in 2007.

By 2012, Ngoc Doi was considered the youngest artist to win the Tran Huu Trang Award with the excerpt "The Girl's Time Has Gone" and the National Professional Theatre Festival with the role of Hieu in the play "One Minute One Time". These two roles brought Ngoc Doi many valuable lessons and experiences.

Her acting is free and confident. Her singing style breaks free from old stereotypes. What is more valuable about Ngoc Doi is that she is not influenced by any star's style in her singing and acting. She has her own qualities, and every day she polishes and cherishes them to make that "gem" shine brighter and more beautiful.

Success after success, Ngoc Doi always thinks that thanks to her own efforts, she has not failed the expectations of those who care and guide her. "I remember the words of composer Trong Nguyen: The profession has placed you in the singing profession, so you must try not to let down the audience who loves you. Remember that you are a child of Bac Lieu, the land that gave birth to the song "Da Co Hoai Lang". I still have to learn a lot to overcome the many obstacles ahead" - Ngoc Doi wishes.

Never leave my hometown Bac Lieu

I once went to Bac Lieu, following the Cao Van Lau troupe to see Ngoc Doi perform the role of Quynh Nga in the play "Ben Cau Det Lua", the role of Thi Hen in "Ngao So Oc Hen", Miss Thu An crying for her husband before the execution in the play "Dem Hoi Long Tri", Thuy Duong ("Tam su hoai chim bien"), Thuy Cuc ("Duong kiem Nguyen Ba")..., in every role she left a good impression. Considered a star artist of today's reformed opera, the precious thing about Ngoc Doi is that despite having many shows in Ho Chi Minh City, she still did not leave Bac Lieu, still attached to the Cao Van Lau Reformed Art Troupe, the place that gave her many opportunities to advance and realize her dream.

"I focus on leaving a deep impression on the audience every time I appear. Nowadays, the Cai Luong stage rarely lights up. In Bac Lieu, thanks to the support of the state, the Cao Van Lau Cai Luong Art Troupe still stages new plays, performing for people in remote areas. The audience here still loves Cai Luong very much. I think I have to play more good roles to respond to the audience's love for me" - Ngoc Doi confided.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/van-nghe/ngoc-doi-su-nghiep-nhu-ten-goi-20180707211516643.htm