cailuongvietnam.com - English Edition

Artists bringing traditional, national elements into artistic creation

In the continuous innovation flow of the arts, many artists have drawn inspiration from traditional culture and national history to create artworks with distinctiveness.

Tran Huu Trang Theater Stages Free Shows to Draw Audience to Cai Luong

Like many traditional forms of theatrical arts in Vietnam, cải lương faces dwindling viewership in today’s society, a problem that theater owners are trying to rectify by offering free shows.

Kien Giang’s contestant claims top prize at Vong Co singing contest

Le Hoang Nghi from the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang won the 19th Chuong Vang (Golden Bell) Vong Co (nostalgia for the past) singing contest which ended at HCMC Television Theater on September 29.

MÁU NHUỘM SÂN CHÙA - YÊN LANG

At "Thien Nhai Tu" temple, a young sadi with the name Tran Tu Tam (Nghe Si Minh Canh) led a peaceful, carefree life of a monk. One cloudy day, a girl called Nhuoc Thuy (Nghe Si Phuong Lien?) came out of nowhere and gave him a letter which told of a horrendous murder that took place 20 years ago that involved the deaths of Tran Tu Tam's parents. He learned that his folks were brutally killed 20 years ago by a traitor in their group and that Tran Tu Tam was lucky enough to escape with the help of a kind man named Du Phong (Nghe Si Thanh Sang) who ran off with him and left him in the temple to be raise by the head monk. The letter also stated that now was the time for Tran Tu Tam to resume a layperson life and seek revenge for his parents.

FAREWELL PEOPLE’S ARTIST THANH TONG: A STAR HAS FALLEN …

Artists exist along with the plays. It is certain that they live on forever with their creativity in every film, in each role and song … But one day, that person has gone. That figure has stopped making a shadow. Though thousands of works leave his good name, the loss and disappointment was so painful.

Vọng Cổ : Sáu Câu (Six Phrases)

Modern vọng cổ is made up of six phrases of thirty-two measures. A noticeable cadence ends each sub-phrase of four measures. At this cadence, all instruments (and the vocalist) come back together, usually hitting the same note. At eight measures before the end of a phrase, the song loan is tapped twice consecutively by the leader (usually the đàn kìm player) to signify that the phrase is ending. On the last measure of a phrase, the song loan is tapped once more to make sure everyone ends together. At that point, the performers may move on to the next phrase, transition to a different song, or end completely.

Remembering a hick (hai lua) named Sen

In the comedy genre in Saigon before 1975, Phi Thoan was considered the very first comedian who invented the art of impromptu jokes. The laughter from the audience seemed to reflect the wholesome image of the hard-working farmers in the South, who are joyful and optimistic. Because he was born and brought up in the South, he thought of his hometown Tra Vinh as a cradle that nourished his dream, a true hick’s dream of becoming an artist.

The story "Mrs. Nam Sa Dec"

The artist Sa Dec has devoted his life to the art of singing, reforming, drama and cinema of the country. On the occasion of the Spring Festival At Mui 2015, mention the "Nam Sa Déc" once again to remind people of the same nostalgia, to encourage the new and mourn for a gift of virtue in America ...

Cai luong legend comes to life in photos

The dramatic life and death of Thanh Nga, a hugely popular cai luong (reformed theatre) artist, has been immortalised in a new picture book that carries almost 100 monochrome photographs of the legend.