 |
| Artist Vu Dieu Thao is always attached to the pipa. (Photo: NVCC) |
Vu Dieu Thao "got into" journalism when she was a student at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, when she worked as an MC for many programs such as Saturday Afternoon Cinema, Cinema Viewpoint, Sunday Arts... of Vietnam Television.
Vu Dieu Thao has worked for quite a long time at VTC Digital Television Station. It was also here that she made the transition from being an MC in the studio to becoming an editor specializing in music - a field she has expertise and deep passion for. "I realized that the best thing is to do the job that I truly love and understand," she shared.
It was this period of time that forged Dieu Thao into a journalist with depth, a strategic approach, and a special attachment to traditional culture - something that she later understood even more deeply when she returned as a pipa artist.
As a television worker, especially in the role of producing traditional art programs, Dieu Thao clearly understands the responsibility of the press in spreading traditional culture to modern audiences.
“Traditional culture is inherently beautiful. But for young people to understand and love it, it needs to be conveyed in a way that is appropriate, fast, close, lively and interesting,” she shared. In the series of programs she has produced, Dieu Thao always prioritizes choosing topics such as Hat Xoan, Quan Ho, Tuong Co, Cheo, Cai Luong, Don Ca Tai Tu… to arouse national pride, especially among young people.
 |
For Vu Dieu Thao, whatever the audience loves about the pipa, she is willing to change to approach them in the most suitable way. If in the past, when digital platforms were not yet developed, television was the most effective way for traditional music to reach the audience, then becoming a journalist specializing in culture and art at VTC is the opportunity for her to spread her love for the pipa.
“In addition to journalism, people working in culture and arts also need a solid professional foundation. I see that as my advantage – I can both develop my professional strengths and do work that matches my passion. Television has given me the opportunity to pave my own path to bring the pipa closer to the public, in the fastest and most effective way,” she said.
In the series of Vietnamese Melodies that Dieu Thao produced, the pipa appeared many times with creative and artistic performances that left an impression on audiences nationwide.
Not stopping at traditional models, she actively collaborated with many musicians to experiment with combining the pipa with EDM, world music... with the desire to bring a fresher approach to this instrument. "To be able to do anything to develop the pipa, I am willing to do my best", Dieu Thao affirmed.
The days spent on the production site not only helped Dieu Thao accumulate experience and knowledge, but also helped her understand and sympathize with the folk artist community - those who silently preserve the national cultural treasures with their whole lives.
“Behind each program is a close connection between artists, theaters, cultural centers… Sometimes, a group of more than 40 artists transport props and costumes from the province to Hanoi just to record a performance, under limited budget conditions. However, they still happily support, without hesitation, because they are all united in the mission of preserving and spreading traditional arts,” she confided.
Dieu Thao admits that thanks to her experience in editing and organizing programs, she has a more comprehensive and strategic view when approaching the audience. “An artist today not only needs to play well, but also needs to clearly understand what they are doing, for whom, and how to approach the audience. Traditional music, to spread strongly, needs to be told in a language appropriate to the times,” she analyzed.
It was from journalism that Dieu Thao learned how to tell the story behind each performance, leading the audience from information to emotion – what makes the difference in her performances.
Being both a host and a performer helps Dieu Thao understand the program in both breadth and depth. She can explain the author, the context of creation, and interesting details surrounding each work before leading the audience to the performance, making the show a “musical conversation”, instead of simply a stage.
Having experienced two seemingly separate fields – journalism and performance – Dieu Thao realized a profound intersection, which is the desire to convey cultural messages to the community. “Journalists and artists are all storytellers. We tell stories with words, sounds, and images – to preserve beauty, connecting traditional values with the present and the future,” she confided.
Currently, along with teaching at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, Dieu Thao continues to participate in editing and producing art programs, especially traditional performances. Although she is no longer active in journalism as frequently as before, the spirit of journalism and media thinking are still imbued in the way she works and lives with art.
Source: https://baosoctrang.org.vn/van-hoa-the-thao-du-lich/202506/vu-dieu-thao-nghe-bao-giup-toi-lan-toa-ve-dep-cua-ty-ba-c170b78/
Comment (0)