Devoted to singing

Hong Truc and co-stars in a performance at Can Tho City Museum. Photo: DUY KHOI

At the recent gathering commemorating Vietnam's Cultural Heritage Day at the Can Tho City Museum, Hong Truc and her fellow performers presented deeply moving Can Tho folk songs, a national intangible cultural heritage. “The striped melon has long and short stripes / And the bitter herb is white inside and green outside / If you love me, don't coax or force me / Wait until my parents decide, then I will agree,” Hong Truc's clear, emotional, and expansive voice, like the rivers and waters of Can Tho, perfectly captured the characteristic nuances and embellishments of Can Tho folk songs.

Fans of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) in Can Tho are undoubtedly familiar with the image of this young, beautiful, and confident artist with her lovely, smooth voice at various programs, competitions, and festivals. Hong Truc always brings energy and excitement to the audience, whether performing Cai Luong, Cai Tai Tu, or folk songs.

Hong Truc is 25 years old this year, from Tan Hoa commune, Can Tho city. She grew up in a family with a tradition in the arts. Almost everyone in Hong Truc's family loves performing arts, and her grandfather used to be part of a Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) troupe. Perhaps that's why Hong Truc is fascinated by Cai Luong and showed talent from a very young age. Recognizing her young talent, her school and local authorities created opportunities for her to participate in art competitions and festivals, where she won many awards. This further fueled her passion for traditional music, alongside the guidance of dedicated teachers.

Hong Truc is a remarkable figure, having participated in all three National Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Festivals and won high awards. At the first National Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Festival in Bac Lieu in 2014, at the age of 14, she confidently performed on a national-level stage, singing the lyrical and skillful song "Lien Nam," winning a Gold Medal. The judges, all seasoned artists, highly praised her potential. Indeed, three years later, at the second National Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Festival in Binh Duong in 2017, Hong Truc again won a Gold Medal, and at the third event hosted by Can Tho City in 2022, she won another Silver Medal. Hong Truc is also a core member of the former Phong Dien District Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Club, having won numerous awards at city-level traditional music festivals.

In 2018, Can Tho City revived the Moc Quan - Nguyen Trong Quyen Cai Luong Singing Contest after a long hiatus. Hong Truc, then only 18 years old, confidently competed against experienced performers and won the championship. Her image as a confident young woman, singing with all her heart and emotion on stage, captivated both the judges and the audience. Hong Truc shared: “This is also a memorable milestone on my artistic journey, a stepping stone for me to wholeheartedly pursue my passion.”

That path is one of honing skills and professional knowledge to establish oneself. Hong Truc recently graduated from the Stage Acting department of Can Tho College of Culture and Arts. During her graduation performance, the audience witnessed the potential of a talented artist in the future when Hong Truc embodied the role of Uyen in the play "The Lonely Tree" (written by Nguyen Thu Phuong, adapted by Hoang Song Viet). Hong Truc perfectly portrayed a girl who suffered many misfortunes and hardships, yearning for happiness and complete love, but ultimately failing to find it. Prior to this, Hong Truc had also performed in many other Cai Luong plays and excerpts, leaving a positive impression.

Hong Truc possesses a clear, strong, and distinctive voice. She sings traditional Vietnamese folk songs with great emotion, especially the 16-beat version – a very challenging piece to sing. The arrangement of the lyrics and the rhythm require a steady rhythm and strong professional skill. Yet, Hong Truc has conquered this with her heartfelt, artistically refined style. Hong Truc says: “I always want to challenge myself with new songs and styles. Even if it's difficult, the more I sing, the more I find the song beautiful and there's so much more to learn.”

Hong Truc further shared that after graduating from college, she will spend time participating in some competitions to hone her skills, learn the craft from practice, and hopes to work at an art organization. After that, Hong Truc will continue her studies at university to fully pursue her passion.

DANG HUYNH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/tron-long-voi-cam-ca-a195214.html