HÀ NỘI — People’s Artist Composer Hoàng Kiều, who made a considerable contribution to Việt Nam’s traditional opera art in the 20th century, died on August 10. He was 92.

His funeral will take place between 7 and 9am, August 12, at Cầu Giấy Funeral House, on Trần Vỹ Street, Cầu Giấy District.

Kiều, whose real name is Tạ Khắc Kế, was born on April 12, 1925, in the northern province of Hưng Yên. He studied music in China between 1950 and 1953 and then returned to work at the Central People’s Art Troupe. In 1956, he became head of the Department of Music and Dance Study under the Ministry of Culture and Information. In later years, he worked as director of the Việt Nam Chèo (Traditional Opera) Theatre, as well as headmaster of the Theatrical Arts College. He took on the posts of deputy headmaster of the Theatre and Cinema College and head of the Traditional Opera Faculty until he retired in 1989.

The development of traditional theatre, especially chèo (traditional opera) was one of his life-long interests. He composed music for 20 chèo plays, including Xúy Vân (Ms Xúy Vân) and Từ Thức Gặp Tiên (Từ Thức Meets A Fairy).

He was among the pioneers in composing and transforming songs for chèo plays. He also wrote scripts for chèo and cải lương (renovated opera), such as Thiên Kim Tình Hận, Nữ Tú Tài and Khát Vọng Ngông Cuồng.

He was also a leading figure in conducting research on theatrical theory and criticism.

His researches in traditional opera art have been considered instrumental, including Using Chèo Melodies (in 1974), Tones in Vietnamese Language and Traditional Music (2001), Ancient Chèo Melodies (2001) and The History of Chèo Theatre and Its Development (2009).

In training, the composer is also regarded to be among the first to lay the foundation for the Theatre and Cinema College, in general, and for the traditional opera sector, in particular.

He married chèo artist Trần Thị Ngọc in 1966 and had four children, the youngest is pop composer Giáng Son. — VNS