HCM CITY — Vietnamese-American Ngọc Huyền, a leading cải lương (reformed opera) performer in the 1990s, will stage a live show in HCM City next week.

Trăm Nhớ Ngàn Thương (Thousand Love) at the We Lounge will be her first live show in the city after 15 years of living in the US. 

 "I’ll sing original traditional tunes for theatre lovers," said Huyền.  

Huyền is hoping that the event, which will feature an orchestra of traditional instrument players, will please her fans.

"To make an impression, I need to offer productions with my own style," the 48-year-old said.

Huyền will sing vọng cổ songs, which are often used in cải lương plays, such as Hoa Nở Về Đêm (Flowers Bloom at Night) and Chiếc Áo Bà Ba (Traditional Shirt used by Southern Women). 

The highlight of the concert will be excerpts from cải lương plays that made Huyền famous for more than two decades.

“To prepare for my show, I’ve been practising my vocal and dance skills several hours a day,” said Huyền, adding that her love for cải lương, a southern theatrical art that originated in the Mekong River Delta in the early 20th century, is still fresh.   

Born in HCM City, Huyền began her career at a very early age. During her stage debut for the Thanh Nga Troupe in 1985, she wowed the audience with her voice, looks and performance.  

She later joined Huỳnh Long Troupe, one of the region’s leading tuồng (classical drama) troupes, becoming one of its brightest stars.

In 1992, she performed pop songs in cải lương plays and left a very strong impression on young audiences.

In 2002, her first live show, Mãi Mãi Một Ước Mơ (Forever Dream), staged cải lương for three nights and attracted more than 5,000 people.

She has performed in many cải lương plays and videos and movies.

She has won dozens of top prizes at national traditional theatre festivals and contests, including the Trần Hữu Trang Award and Mai Vàng (Golden Apricot) Award presented by HCM City Theatre Association and Người Lao Động (Labourer) newspaper.

Her strong and melodic voice as well as commanding stage presence have helped Huyền leave an indelible mark on the art.

The show, Trăm Nhớ Ngàn Thương (Thousand Loves), will begin at 8pm on October 20 at We Lounge, 8 Lê Quý Đôn Street, District 3. — VNS