Quan Ho folk singing facing new experiments.

BAC NINH - Quan Ho folk songs are "marrying" with the stage of opera, Cheo, Tuong, and Ca Tru; or the adaptation, harmony, and arrangement of ancient melodies to illustrate Dong Ho paintings and tell stories of traditional pottery making… These creative and experimental efforts aim to preserve the quintessential values ​​of Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs, while helping the heritage to harmonize with the breath of contemporary life.

A daring "experiment".

Recently, the Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theatre premiered the opera "The Girl from Quan Ho Village". This work marks a bold shift by combining Quan Ho folk songs with theatrical drama. With a running time of nearly 120 minutes, "The Girl from Quan Ho Village" offered audiences a fresh artistic atmosphere, evoking unique emotions...

A scene from the opera "The Girl from Quan Ho Village".

Using traditional Quan Ho folk melodies as its main musical material, the play recreates a touching story about love for one's homeland and appreciation for the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation. The central character is Van, a beautiful and virtuous girl who sings Quan Ho and deeply loves Phong, a young man who later follows the revolutionary path. Their love is torn apart by war and power struggles, and after 15 years of separation, they reunite at the village festival when the Revolution triumphs. A highlight of "The Girl from Quan Ho Village" is the use of Quan Ho folk melodies as a central axis to connect emotions, situations, and the storyline. Dozens of ancient Quan Ho melodies are selected and performed subtly, creating a seamless musical flow, such as: "A Wise Bird Perches on the Mansion's Roof," "Last Night I Missed My Friend," "My Dear, Don't Leave," "Longing in My Heart," "First Cinnamon, Second Orchid," "Meeting Again," "Farewell," etc.

Audiences taking the time to buy tickets and enjoy experimental programs like "Truong Chi," "The Beauty of Kinh Bac," or "The Girl from Quan Ho Village" is a practical action that contributes to preserving, enriching, and developing the Quan Ho heritage in the modern era.

Sharing his thoughts on the production process, director Nguyen Ngoc Cao confided: "Quan Ho folk songs, with their gentle and soothing rhythms, presented a significant challenge when adapted to a play with conflict, tension, drama, and a cast of protagonists and antagonists. However, after extensive research, exploration, and selection of the most suitable melodies, along with the efforts of the entire team, we strived to create a complete work that meets the new demands of the public while preserving the value and beauty of Quan Ho folk songs..."

Admittedly, after a long period of repetitive, monotonous programs that seemed to be "eroding" the artists' inspiration, "The Girl from Quan Ho Village" has awakened the emotions of Quan Ho enthusiasts, offering a change of taste with performances that have climaxes, plot twists, and resolutions... The blend of folk songs, acting art, and modern theatrical thinking has created an overall performance that is rich in evocative power, deeply imbued with the essence of Quan Ho, yet artistic, and suitable for the audience's enjoyment.

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Trinh Huu Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Standing Vice Chairman of the Department's Art Council, affirmed: "The success of the performance is the result of a harmonious creative process by the entire team, including many components: scriptwriters, directors, actors, musicians, stage designers, technicians, etc. This is an elaborate performance, demonstrating the determination and bold efforts of the Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theatre to innovate."

Preserving and developing heritage

Along with "The Girl from Quan Ho Village," the Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theatre has recently seen a number of experimental programs such as "The Beauty of Kinh Bac," "Truong Chi," etc. These works still use ancient Quan Ho folk songs as their core material, but are harmonized and orchestrated using contemporary musical language, while also innovating the stage space and structure in a storytelling direction, increasing dramatic tension and emotional depth. Participating as an advisor for the opera "The Girl from Quan Ho Village," People's Artist Thuy Mui expressed her surprise at the ability of Quan Ho folk melodies to fully convey the many nuances of human emotion, while also meeting the requirements for expressing the content of theatrical scripts such as Cheo, Tuong, or folk opera...

Artists and actors from the Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theatre in the experimental work "Truong Chi".

A common thread among experimental programs is serious, careful, and dedicated research and investment. Through new challenges on stage, artists have the opportunity to reinvent themselves, expand their expressive range, fulfill their artistic aspirations, and find creative inspiration.

Adaptation, innovation, and enrichment of heritage are natural laws of development, helping Quan Ho folk singing to firmly take root in life. Especially in the context of deep integration, public tastes and artistic needs are constantly changing, making exploration and experimentation an essential requirement. However, the extent of experimentation and the limits of creativity to avoid diminishing the true value of Quan Ho are issues that need careful consideration. Creativity must be based on a deep understanding and respect for the heritage. Only when truly imbued with the essence of Quan Ho, understanding its character, language, and traditional aesthetics, can experimental programs truly convince and captivate the public.

Audiences taking the time to buy tickets and enjoy experimental programs like "Truong Chi," "The Beauty of Kinh Bac," or "The Girl from Quan Ho Village" is a practical action that contributes to preserving, nurturing, and developing the Quan Ho heritage in the modern era.

Text and photos: Thanh Lam

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/quan-ho-truc-nhung-the-nghiem-moi-postid433154.bbg