Songs and plays about Vietnamese culture and lifestyle were performed by young contestants at Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ 2020 (Golden Bell), a national traditional music contest for cải lương artists launched by the HCM City Television. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

HCM CITY — Nguyễn Quốc Nhựt of Long An Province has won the 2020 Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ (Golden Bell) contest, an annual cải lương (reformed opera) competition launched by HCM City Television (HTV). 

Nhựt and his competitors, Lê Văn Hậu and Võ Hoàng Dư, performed excerpts from famous plays featuring Vietnamese historical events and characters at the final show at the HTV Theatre in HCM City late last month.

Nhựt’s performance in Kiều Nguyệt Nga (Story of Kiều Nguyệt Nga), a play in praise of love, bravery and southern women in the 19th century, left a strong impression on the judges and audiences. 

Nguyễn Quốc Nhựt of Long An Province (left) has won the Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ 2020 (Golden Bell) contest, an annual cải lương (reformed opera) competition launched by HCM City Television (HTV). — Photo courtesy of the organiser

 His sweet and strong voice and performance helped the actor receive the highest score of 99.79 from the judges. 

He won the top prize worth VNĐ100 million (US$4,900). 

Actor Hậu of An Giang Province was the runner-up, while actor Dư of Long An finished third. 

“Nhựt gained lessons in singing and performance skills from his coaches, Meritorious Artist Thoại Mỹ and Lê Hồng Thắm. He made great progress through the competition,” said People’s Artist Minh Vương, a member of the contest’s judging panel.

“I hope Nhựt and winners of Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ will develop their career and keep cải lương, the south’s most popular and 100-year-old theatre form, alive through their art,” added Vương, who has more than 60 years of experience in the art. 

The 15th Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ 2020 began in June, attracting 386 contestants aged 16 to 35 in Việt Nam. 

Its semi-final round featured 36 candidates who won in the contest’s selective rounds organised in six cities and provinces across the country in August. 

They performed vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes) songs and cải lương plays in praise of the country and patriotism. Their performances aired live on HTV9 channel to serve millions of viewers around the country. Audiences voted for the winners. 

“I’m a rural man living in a small town of Long An. I loved singing cải lương when I was a boy. I can improve my soul and knowledge through this art,” said Nhựt, winner of the Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ 2020.

Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ began in 2006 and has discovered new talents in theatre. Many winners, such as Ngọc Đợi and Võ Thành Phê, have worked for leading traditional art troupes in the region. — VNS