ART FOR KIDS: Artists from the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương (reformed opera) Theatre perform an excerpt from the cải lương play Chân Dung Người Mở Cõi (Marquis Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh) at the Trần Văn Giàu High School in Bình Thạnh District. — Photo courtesy of the theatre

HCM CITY — HCM City schools and artists are working on a project to introduce traditional musical instruments and cải lương (reformed opera) to schools across the city this year.

The project is co-organised by the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, one of Việt Nam’s leading art troupes, and FPT University’s traditional music department with the support of the city’s Department of Culture and Sports.

The organisers target to bring the project to around 30 schools in the city this year.

The programme aims to offer knowledge on traditional Vietnamese musical instruments such as đàn nguyệt (double-stringed lute), đàn tỳ bà (plucked four-string instrument) and đàn bầu (monochord) through performances and classes hosted by students and lecturers from the university.

The performances feature popular folk songs such as Trống Cơm (Cylindrical Drum) and Lý Cây Đa (Song of Banian), as well as young people’s favourite pop songs such as Hoa Hải Đường (Camelia).

In addition, artists from the Trần Hữu Trang Theatre will perform excerpts from famous cải lương plays, including Chân Dung Người Mở Cõi (Marquis Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh) written by playwright Phạm Văn Đằng.

Đằng said: “The project motivates me to continue to compose more quality plays to serve the community and tourists. It also helps young people to learn more about the country’s history and culture, and raise their awareness to preserve and promote traditional arts.”

Đằng, a native of the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Hậu Giang, graduated from the HCM City University of Cinematography and Theatre.

He wrote his first play Giọt Máu Chung Tình (Blood of Love) in 2007 for the Bình Minh Film Studio, featuring talented artists such as Phượng Loan, Hữu Quốc, Trọng Phúc and Lê Hồng Thắm.

He has written many plays such as Lê Công Kỳ Án (Lê Công's Extraordinary Case), Đất Thiêng (Holy Land) and Chuyện Của Dung (Dung's Story).

His plays have been presented at many cải lương festivals.

In 2022, Đằng was honoured as having the most plays performed at the Trần Hữu Trang Talented Cải Lương Performers Contest, a competition for national professional cải lương performers. — VNS