Cải lương artists will find new opportunities to develop their career during Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Talented Performers 2020. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

HCM CITY — The national traditional music contest, Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Talented Performers 2020, has postponed its launch date due to a resurgence of COVID-19. 

The event’s organisers, HCM City Television and HCM City Theatre Association, said the contest’s opening ceremony this week has been cancelled. 

“Even though we’re ready for the contest, we need to postpone our event to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among all contestants, guest artists, the jury and audiences,” theatre director Phan Quốc Kiệt, director of the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương theatre, a member of the contest’s organising board, said. 

“Our contestants are still working with skilled performers, People’s Artist Bạch Tuyết and Meritorious Artist Vũ Linh, who were invited to train participants during the contest, to prepare for their performance after the spread of the virus,” he said. 

Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Talented Performers 2020 encourages young artists to develop their talent in cải lương (reformed opera), the south’s most popular theatre form, and expand the art among audiences, particularly young people. 

Its semi-final rounds are scheduled to take place in HCM City, Cần Thơ and Hà Nội next month.

They will feature 46 candidates performing vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes) songs and cải lương plays. 

Each performance will be broadcast live on HTV9 channel to serve millions of viewers around the country. 

The final round will take place on three nights in October in HCM City. 

Twenty finalists will compete for two gold medals for men and women. Four silver medals will also be presented. Favourite Performer and Youngest Talent titles will also be decided by the jury. 

The jury includes veteran artists such as theatre director-scriptwriter Hoàng Song Việt and People’s Artist Giang Mạnh Hà, who have played a role in the development of Vietnamese theatre. 

“Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Talented Performers began in 2000 and has discovered and encouraged new talents in theatre. Many winners of the contest have been invited to work for leading traditional art troupes and art schools. This year, I decided to participate in the contest to find new opportunities for my career,” said actor Khánh Tuấn of Long An Province. — VNS