Performance by Đắc Lắc Sing and Dance Troupe at the opening of the festival in the Central HIghland Province of Đắc Lắc. Photo laodong.vn

HÀ NỘI — Ten HCM City art troupes are performing at the National Traditional Musical Instrumentalist and Ensembles Festival 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival is being held in five localities including the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk, HCM City, central Thanh Hóa Province, northern Vĩnh Phúc Province and Hà Nội from September 18 to October 3.

This is a chance for artists to perform various traditional genres such as tuồng (traditional opera), cải lương (reformed theatre), chèo (popular opera) and traditional instruments. 

The festival will be live-streamed on YouTube for the first time to give traditional music lovers a chance to follow the festival online. 

At the festival opening in the Culture Centre in Ban Mê Thuột City, Đắk Lắk, the audience had the chance to enjoy performances by Đắk Lắk Sing and Dance Troupe and Huế Traditional Sing Theatre. 

The repertoires were new compositions based on the folk music of Ê đê, Gia Rai and Xơ Đăng ethnic groups.

Đắk Lắk-based artists played bamboo-made instruments and gongs to create amazing sounds 

In HCM City, the festival was opened with performances by artists from the HCM Conservatory, with solo performances on bamboo flute, đàn nguyệt (two-string moon-shaped lute) and đàn bầu (monochord). 

The festival is being held by the Việt Nam Musicians Association and Department of Performing Art to give a chance for traditional musicians from art troupes and students and teachers from music academies, conservatories and cultural and art training institutions nationwide to perform and exchange experiences.

It aims to contribute to Vietnamese traditional music preservation and development.

The seven-member jury panel will award first, second, third and encouragement prize to the best soloists and ensembles.

After HCM City, the festival will head to Thanh Hóa Province from 25 to 26 September at the Traditional Art Theatre and at Vĩnh Phúc Art Theatre in Vĩnh Phúc Province on 28 September.

The Hà Nội-based Việt Nam Chèo Theatre will hold the festival from September 30 to October 2.

The awards ceremony will be held on October 4. — VNS