• People's Artist - Doctor Bach Tuyet "Every day is Vu Lan day for me"

The female artist said that anything new always encounters initial difficulties.

- People's Artist Bach Tuyet, you became a leading actress at the age of 16 and have your first PhD in this field. How do you evaluate the development of Cai Luong up to this point?

People's Artist Bach Tuyet: I compare Cai Luong to a river, but no one immerses themselves in the old water. Cai Luong must also adapt, that is, it must adapt to many objective and subjective factors to understand that change is inevitable for this art form to develop more and more. The audience will come to what they need and what they desire and crave. During that process, the artist himself should also observe and create continuously. In fact, over a hundred years, Cai Luong has also changed when facing the constantly reversing cultural flow.

For me, cải lương saved my life. After each performance, I just hung around the troupe, chatting with teachers and seniors, because I wanted to know, to learn more about cải lương. So I got to hear and learn many interesting things about cải lương that books could not have.

- Which teacher gave you many great lessons about reformed opera?

People's Artist Bach Tuyet: That's Ma Bay - People's Artist Phung Ha. I remember every word Ma Bay taught me from the time I first started my career until I became a famous actress and was loved by the audience. Whatever I did according to Ma Bay's words, everything came true. I only promised that, as long as I still had breath, I would perform Cai Luong well. Ma Bay taught me every little thing, but luckily I didn't get scolded much. Ma Bay always taught us to take good care of ourselves. This care is not only for the artists themselves but also for the audience. The audience already sees beautiful artists on stage, so in real life we ​​cannot disappoint them. We must not let ourselves be ugly, sloppy, or behave uncultured in the eyes of the fans who love us wholeheartedly. That not only shows respect for the audience but also the self-respect of the artists themselves.

- Recently, you have collaborated with many young artists such as Orange, Hoang Dung... Why did you do this when young music and reformed opera seem to have no connection?

People's Artist Bach Tuyet: I always want to develop and maintain Cai Luong - one of the important art forms that represents the identity and culture of Vietnam. Therefore, collaborating with young artists is something I always want to do, to help Cai Luong reach new audiences, in a modern way. Moreover, working with young people also helps me broaden my horizons, gain more new knowledge, and help me not to fall behind.

People's Artist Bach Tuyet and veteran cai luong artists demonstrate for candidates at the Cai Luong Academy. (Photo provided by the character)

- Does this mean to renew cải lương, madam?

People's Artist Bach Tuyet: During my career, I have not been afraid of innovating Cai Luong. However, to have new things and have them accepted is not easy. It requires artists to be persistent. New things are always difficult to reach the public. Because when people do not understand, they do not love, and there are even words of contempt that we do not expect. When doing something new, the first thing is to make yourself happy and help everyone move forward together. If you have the heart to do something good, why should you be afraid? Walking on a new path that you open yourself will certainly be very lonely. When the new thing has been accompanied and accepted by the audience, we receive indescribable joy. That is why, up to now, I still want new things.

- At the age of 80, you launched the Cai Luong Academy program. Do you want to create a “Gen Z Cai Luong generation”?

People's Artist Bach Tuyet: The Cai Luong Academy has equipped Gen Z artists with basic knowledge about the art of singing and performing Cai Luong, creating a space from the practice floor to the stage for students to gradually become professional Cai Luong artists. At the same time, the program also guides Gen Z artists to become cultural activists, contributing to the preservation and development of the country's cultural and artistic heritage. I set a very clear criterion for the Cai Luong Academy: the program aims to find - train - pass on the profession and "tailor" the voices and roles suitable to the strengths of each student. The talented artists I invited to the program will help Gen Z who are passionate about Cai Luong to deeply understand and be knowledgeable about the art they love. I am very happy that some colleagues have joined me to carry out this new project, which will launch in 2024. I hope that Cai Luong will continue to seek the new things of the times. Therefore, in the Cai Luong Academy, the producer dedicates a course to training "trendy cai luong" with a contemporary feel for young people.

- Thank you People's Artist Bach Tuyet for this conversation!

Performed by Lam Khanh

Source: https://baocamau.vn/nsnd-bach-tuyet-cai-luong-cung-phai-thich-nghi-de-phat-trien-a34093.html