Út Bạch Lan, whose real name was Đặng Thị Hai, was born in 1935 in Lộc Hóa hamlet, Đức Hòa district, Long An province. Her father died young, and she and her mother had to migrate to the Saigon-Chợ Lớn area to work odd jobs to make ends meet. Because of her love for traditional Vietnamese folk music and the hardships of making a living, she and a friend began singing on the streets to earn money.
The life of the young street singer seemed destined to drift along in the indifference of society, but unexpectedly, one day an artist sought her out, wanting to hear her sing sweet vọng cổ (traditional Vietnamese folk songs). This listener, known at the time as "Cô Năm Cần Thơ " (Miss Năm of Can Tho), was a famous cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) artist who was often generous in mentoring aspiring singers. Thanks to this kindness of the renowned artist, the young street singer was invited to record an audition for a vọng cổ song called "Trọng Thủy - Mỵ Châu" on the French-Asian radio station. The sweet, God-given voice of the young singer, Đặng Thị Hai, captivated the audience, and the station signed a contract to work for her...
Thus, from a street singer, Dang Thi Hai embarked on a professional singing career under the stage name Ut Bach Lan. With her naturally sweet voice, and the guidance of Ms. Nam Can Tho, Meritorious Artist Ut Bach Lan began to attract the attention of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) lovers. Her first performance, which marked her name to the public and the press, was the historical drama "Do Ban Di Han" (The Revenge of Do Ban) at the Thanh Minh stage.
With her sweet voice, meticulously honed singing technique, and creative, expressive acting style, she quickly won over the public. Many record companies and radio stations throughout Southern Vietnam began inviting Bach Lan to collaborate on recordings. Bach Lan participated in many plays, each leaving its own unique mark: "The Love of a Hue Girl," "The Goddess Offering the Five Sacred Banners," "The Border in Turmoil," "The Hero's Love," "Tears of the Qin Dynasty," "The Angel on the Iron Horse," "A Bowl of Rice in the Capital," and "The Boat Sailing to the Sea."
A pivotal event in Bach Lan's artistic life occurred in 1958 when she joined the Kim Chuong troupe alongside artist Thanh Duoc. The Bach Lan-Thanh Duoc duo formed a harmonious pair both on and off stage. From co-stars, they fell in love and became life partners. However, Thanh Duoc was a renowned actor at the time, admired by many women. Bach Lan's sincere affection was not enough to hold onto the heart of the charismatic Thanh Duoc. The actor followed the call of new love, leaving Bach Lan with an unhealable wound.
Her time working with the Kim Chưởng troupe was also the period that propelled Bạch Lan's name to the pinnacle of Vietnamese cải lương (traditional opera). Many of Bạch Lan's memorable roles from before 1975 are still remembered with admiration by those in the industry today, such as her role as Hằng in the play "Hằng's Daughter," or the distinctive vọng cổ (traditional Vietnamese folk song) written specifically for Bạch Lan by composer Viễn Châu, with its melancholic and poignant lyrics, sung by the artist herself, which brought tears to the eyes of many.
With her melancholic voice and soulful eyes, Bach Lan embodied many roles and performed poignant, sorrowful vong co (traditional Vietnamese folk songs). Therefore, her fans bestowed upon her many nicknames: The Foremost Female Opera Singer, The Queen of Vong Co, The Princess of the Evening Mist, The Youngest Melancholy Singer Bach Lan... Many lovers of cai luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) in the North also know the golden voice of Bach Lan through her familiar cai luong plays: Tinh Lan va Diep, Half a Lifetime of Fragrance and Powder...
From 1976 to 1986, Meritorious Artist Bach Lan was the head of the Long An Cai Luong (traditional Vietnamese opera) troupe. In her later years, as she aged, she devoted much of her time to passing on her skills and mentoring young artists. Young artists admired her talent and virtue, affectionately calling her "Mother Ut." Furthermore, she dedicated much of her artistic activities to charity. She and her fellow artists, such as Dieu Hien, To Chau, Bao Tran, and Thanh Su, often performed to raise funds for temples or to help families in difficult circumstances.
At 81 years old, with decades dedicated to the stage, the immense contributions of Meritorious Artist Bach Lan to Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) are immeasurable. A successful artist who rose from hardship, Meritorious Artist Bach Lan lived a life of complete dedication to art and passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love and respect of her colleagues. And audiences will surely never forget the "golden-voiced sorrowful woman," Bach Lan.
Mai Phuong
This article uses material from a newspaper.
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/sau-nu-ut-bach-lan-da-vao-cuoc-phieu-luu-20161111083055953.html
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