Light the fire of love with a stage career

The ceremony to celebrate the 95th birth anniversary and commemorate the 20th death anniversary of playwright Phan Luong Hao - the first person in Ha Tinh to be posthumously awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts in 2012, organized by his family, has spread many values to many artists in the province.

Mr. Phan Luong Hao was born into a patriotic Confucian family in the countryside along the La River, in Hoa Dinh village, Bui Xa commune (now Bui La Nhan), Duc Tho district, a land that at the same time produced many artists and writers such as sculptor Diem Phung Thi, writer Nguyen Xuan Thieu, poets Luong Si Cam, Nguyen Quoc Anh...

State Council Chairman Truong Chinh presents flowers to author Phan Luong Hao and the main actor of the play Mai Thuc Loan. Photo: Archive

In 1948, he joined the army and fought against the French as a deputy platoon leader. After being discharged from the army, from 1957, he transferred to work at the Department of Arts of the Ministry of Culture. In 1962, he returned to his hometown and worked as a cadre at the Ha Tinh Department of Culture. In 1969, he was one of the founding members and a member of the first Executive Committee of the Ha Tinh Literature and Arts Association. After the separation of the province, he retired and lived with his wife and children in Nam Hong ward, Hong Linh town. The late author Phan Luong Hao was a member of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association, continuously holding the position of Executive Committee member and Head of the Stage Department of the Ha Tinh Literature and Arts Association from term I to term IV.

Not counting operas and Tang poems, playwright Phan Luong Hao wrote over 30 plays, skits, and folk song suites, which were published and staged at the central and local levels. His typical plays during the anti-American resistance period include: The Warehouse Girl (1966), The Village Ball (1967), The Nai Mountain Girl (1968), The New Battlefield (1970), Miss Tam (1973), By the Fortress (1975)... The war ended and peace was restored when he was at his peak of creativity and successively released the plays: Gift Package (1979), Alarm Clock Bell (1984), Mai Thuc Loan (1985), Pine Forest Song (1986), Cinnamon Forest Stirring (1990)...

In particular, the play “Mai Thuc Loan” won the Gold Medal at the National Professional Theater Festival held in Vinh City in 1985, marking the official establishment of Nghe Tinh folk theater as a genre in the flower garden of national theater. The reformed opera “Xon xao rung que” won the A prize at the National Professional Theater Festival in 1990 in Hai Phong .

In the last years of his life, he had to fight his illness and work hard to continue to produce the opera Huyen Thoai Nui Hong (1998); 2 long plays Di Tim Nap Mo (2001) and Trang Soi Noi Oan (2002). Due to old age and serious illness, he passed away on July 21, 2003 (June 22, Quy Mui year) to the regret of his family, relatives, friends, colleagues and the public.

Light the fire of love with a stage career

Excerpt from "Farewell Song" in the play "Mai Thuc Loan" by the late author Phan Luong Hao performed by Thanh Sen Folk Song and Dance Club.

Throughout his life and career in cultural and artistic activities, playwright Phan Luong Hao has won many noble awards such as: the award of the National Committee of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations; the Third-class Victory Medal; the First-class Anti-American National Salvation Medal; the commemorative medal for the cause of Vietnamese Literature and Arts; the commemorative medal for the cause of Vietnamese Culture; many certificates of merit from the Ministry of Culture - Information, and the Provincial People's Committee.

In particular, with his outstanding contributions to the field of theater, in 2012, playwright Phan Luong Hao was posthumously awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts by the President for his collection of “Selected Operas”. In 2020, with the support of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Committee and the Ha Tinh Literature and Arts Association, the Stage Publishing House released the Phan Luong Hao collection.

“Though that body returns to dust/ The soul’s fire still resonates in the memories of many people” (poem by PTH). It has been 20 years since playwright Phan Luong Hao left this temporary world to return to his ancestors, but surely his life and career will live forever in the hearts of many people, because he is worthy of being a true artist, daring to burn himself out for his creative passions, and is an exemplary model of attitude towards his homeland, clan, and family.

During the ceremony to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the birth and 20th anniversary of the death of playwright Phan Luong Hao, many artists and artisans, including those who were colleagues at the same time such as actors Xuan Ngo, Hong Loan, Hoai Thanh, Thanh Mai or the younger generation such as People's Artist Vu Thi Thanh Minh, musician Manh Chien, People's Artist Hong Luu and a large audience could not contain their emotions when enjoying the excerpt "Parting Song" in the poetic play "Mai Thuc Loan" performed by actors of the Thanh Sen Folk Song and Dance Club. The farewell of Mai Thuc Loan (played by artist Tran Van Sang) to his lover, Ms. Vai (played by folk artist Phan Thuy Diem), the scene where he was arrested by the royal soldiers, the villagers spread their arms to protect him caused deep emotion.

The Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam melodies bring the audience back to the historical roots of their homeland, deep, poignant, and moving. Tears welled up in the eyes of many audiences, including many young people. People's Artist Vu Thi Thanh Minh (Cam My Commune, Cam Xuyen) emotionally said: "My father used to be an actor of the Ha Tinh People's Art Troupe (now the Traditional Arts Theater). Today, I got to meet his contemporaries and watch an excerpt of the poetic play "Mai Thuc Loan" composed by playwright Phan Luong Hao based on Vi and Giam melodies. I was deeply moved to return to the stage atmosphere of my hometown."

Artist Le Thi Kim Phu (Thanh Sen Folk Song and Dance Club), who was cast as a supporting actor, could not hide her pride: “This is the first time I have been cast as an actor, even though it is only a supporting role, I am extremely excited and love the excerpt from the play. I hope to continue performing to spread messages to the audience.”

Light the fire of love with a stage career

Writer Phan Trung Hieu, son of playwright Phan Luong Hao, spoke at the ceremony.

Along with the performance of excerpts from the poetic play, the audience also enjoyed other melodies of Vi and Giam folk songs, and listened to actress Hong Loan (81 years old) recall the memories of playing the role of Co Tam, the main character in the poetic play "Co Tam" performed by the Ha Tinh Opera Troupe in 1973. Many artists had the opportunity to recall the years when artists were also soldiers, serving the cause of national liberation. Besides the memories of the heroic years, many people expressed their joy because Vi and Giam folk songs continue to spread, living forever in the hearts of the people.

Writer Phan Trung Hieu, son of playwright Phan Luong Hao, shared: “The memorial service for the 95th anniversary of my father's birth and 20th anniversary of his death is not only an opportunity for the family to remember their father and grandfather, but also an opportunity for the province's artists to gather, meet, and learn more about his life of dedication, light up the flame of love for the province's theater career, spread the great values of the Nghe Tinh folk song heritage, and give strength to the province's artists in general and our descendants in particular on the journey ahead.”

Minghui

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