ENTERTAINMENT - The Đắk Lắk Province's Traditional Art Troupeoffers free performances in HCM City on May 3 and 4. Photo courtesy of the troupe

HCM CITY — The Đắk Lắk Province's Traditional Art Troupe is preparing free performances in HCM City on May 3 and 4.

The programme is co-organised by the Đắk Lắk Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the city Department of Culture and Sports to introduce and promote traditional music and art of the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) among the city’s residents and local and international visitors.

The two first performances will be held at 7:30 pm on May 3 at Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street and 7:30 am on May 4 in front of the Central Post Office in District 1.

The performances will include songs highlighting the generous and liberal spirit of the Tây Nguyên region and its people.

Various gong performances will be offered as well.

ĐẮK LẮK ART - The troupe will perform the musical Khát Vọng Đam San (Đam San’s Aspiration) at the Opera House on May 4. Photo courtesy of the troupe

The highlight of the programme will be the musical Khát Vọng Đam San (Đam San’s Aspiration), written and composed by Nguyễn Cường, who is known as Son of Tây Nguyên, in 2021. 

The play is based on Trường Ca Đam San (The Great Epic of Đam San), a famous seven-chapter epic of the Ê Đê ethnic minority people in Tây Nguyên. It tells the story of a heroic chieftain named Đam San.

The epic was collected by French ethnologist Sabatier in Đắk Lắk and published in Ê Đê language and French in Paris in 1927. It was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2014.

The five-chapter musical praises the beauty of local nature and people. It has a significant historical meaning that retains the same value in present society.

It premiered in 2021 at Đắk Lắk Museum and has been highly appreciated.

The play will premiere at 7:30 pm on May 4 at the city Opera House. — VNS