SPREADING CLASSIC ART - The Lạc Long Quân Drama Troupe offers theatre shows for students as part of its efforts to popularise cải lương (reformed opera) — a 100-year-old symbolic form of Vietnamese theatre that originated in southern Việt Nam — among youngsters. Photo courtesy of the theatre.

HCM CITY— The private Lạc Long Quân Drama Troupe is offering a music programme targeting primary and secondary students in HCM City.

The programme is called Đưa Ca Khúc Sử Việt Vào Học Đường (Singing Vietnamese Songs) and offers music and song performances staged by young artists, including Chí Cường, Thu Thảo and Yến Phương.

The singers perform songs and dances featuring Vietnamese history and culture by talented composers from different periods.

Folk songs about national heroes are also included.

“Through our art, we hope young generations will love Vietnamese music and improve their knowledge of the country’s history and culture,” said musician-songwriter Hoài An, a member of the programme’s managing board.

Born in 1977, An has composed more than 500 songs, many of which became hits during the 1990s and 2000s.

He performs in high-rating TV music game shows such as Gương Mặt Thân Quen (Your Face Looks Familiar), Vietnam Idol Kids, and Ca Sĩ Giấu Mặt (The Hidden Singer).

An and his artists visited the Phong Phú Secondary School in Bình Chánh District last week to entertain more than 200 students.

YOUNG TALENT - Dozens of young artists from Lạc Long Quân Drama Troupe, one of HCM City’s private theatres, have participated in a new programme to introduce Vietnamese music and songs targeting students in HCM City this year. Photo courtesy of the theatre.

Lạc Long Quân Drama Troupe has also offered theatre shows for students this year as part of its efforts to popularise cải lương (reformed opera) - a 100-year-old symbolic form of Vietnamese theatre that originated in southern Việt Nam - among youngsters.

Its artists have performed for more than 3,000 students from schools in the districts of Gò Vấp, Bình Tân and Củ Chi and Thủ Đức City.

Famous extracts from historical plays such as Tiếng Trống Mê Linh (The Sounds of Mê Linh Drum) and Thái Hậu Dương Vân Nga (Queen Mother Dương Vân Nga) have been performed.

Tiếng Trống Mê Linh is directed by People’s Artist Trần Ngọc Giàu. It has been staged many times by leading theatres and troupes in the city and southern provinces.

The play tells the life of Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị, two sisters who led the first resistance movement against the Chinese occupation in the first century, around 2,000 years ago.

Their victory brought liberation for Đại Việt (an old name for Việt Nam) after 247 years of Chinese domination.

The programme, Đưa Ca Khúc Sử Việt Vào Học Đường, started on October 24 and will offer 50 free shows. — VNS