The stroll led to a romantic encounter with rowing.

“Initially, I came to Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) as a casual stroll, but my initial enjoyment led to curiosity, prompting me to learn and explore it…” This seemingly fleeting stroll led Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Chi to dedicate 60 years to Cheo. He became one of the first Meritorious Artists of this art form in But Son town (Hoang Hoa district).

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Nhu Chi. Photo: Van Anh

Passionate to the point of forgetting to eat.

According to artisan Nguyen Nhu Chi, at that time, traditional Vietnamese opera (cheo, tuong, chau van) were popular forms of entertainment. Many famous troupes from Hoang Hoa district traveled throughout the province to perform, and were loved by both adults and children. “Children back then loved cheo, tuong, and cai luong just like young people today love modern music. Whenever there was a performance in the village, we would forget to eat and arrive as early as possible, choosing the best spots. After the performance ended, we would linger, touching the musical instruments, talking to the actors and actresses, and discussing the plays and excerpts… We wouldn’t go home until the village square was completely empty.” These are the beautiful first memories of Mr. Chi's journey into the art of cheo.

“Indeed, at first I came to cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) as a casual stroll, but my initial interest led to curiosity, prompting me to learn and study… No one in my family knew how to sing cheo, nor did they intend for me to pursue a career in the performing arts,” Mr. Chi confided. However, after being taught by folk artists, young Chi soon revealed his talent. At 14 years old, he could memorize all the cheo musical instruments, skillfully playing percussion instruments (rice drum, cymbals, wooden blocks) and more difficult instruments like the dan nguyet (moon lute) and dan nhi (two-stringed fiddle). Not stopping at the instruments, Mr. Chi also independently learned from his predecessors about singing techniques, breath control, enunciation, and vocal embellishments to achieve the right resonance, depth, and vibrancy for cheo singing. Day after day, the art of cheo gradually seeped into him naturally, like the breath of life, without him even realizing it. “I became a leading actor, performing on stage with the artists I had always longed to talk to.” Mr. Chi said.

When war broke out, Mr. Chi joined the army, thinking his passion for traditional Vietnamese opera (chèo) would end, his "roaming" coming to a close. But no, it was precisely in the harshest battlefields that "singing" could "drown out the sound of bombs." The lively and exciting performances were a source of joy, easing the pain for the soldiers on the battlefield. Recognizing the immense spiritual significance of "singing," Mr. Chi joined the performing arts troupe, composing and performing.

It was the singing during the bombing raids that made Mr. Chi realize the true value and immense power of traditional folk art in Vietnamese life. He decided to dedicate his life to Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera).

The time Mr. Chi was discharged from the army coincided with the gradual neglect of traditional art forms. Those who came before him were aging and passing away, while the younger generation lacked enthusiasm for learning. “This troubled me for months. I had to find a way to bring traditional singing back,” he thought, prompting him to find and gather those who still cherished chèo (traditional Vietnamese opera) into a performing arts group that later became the But Son Town Folk Arts Club. To maintain the group's activities, Mr. Chi repeatedly used his own money to fund performances, purchase necessary equipment for practice, and encourage and instill in each member the spirit of preserving national cultural identity.

Mr. Chi and the club members' enthusiasm and passion have made the traditional Vietnamese opera (cheo) melodies even more captivating and soulful, leading to numerous performance invitations. Mr. Chi and the club regularly participate in major provincial and national festivals, receiving many certificates and awards from the province and central government. Notable achievements include: a gold medal for the cheo play "The Warning Bell" in 2005; a certificate of merit from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for Mr. Chi and the club for outstanding achievements in building grassroots cultural life in the New Rural Development program during the 2016-2018 period; a certificate of merit from the Vietnam Music Development Center and the Vietnam Musicians Association; a certificate of merit from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province; and the title of Meritorious Artist of the 2019 National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the folk performing arts category...

Bringing the "breath" of life into traditional Vietnamese opera.

“Great joy fills our hearts, our homeland is bustling with songs. The joy spreads to every home, celebrating Hoang Tien achieving the model New Rural Area criteria. Because the Party Committee and the people have worked together, we have achieved today's results…” These are the lyrics for the cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) performance that Mr. Chi composed with his colleagues for the Hoang Tien commune's performing arts troupe. The songs and scenes in the cheo plays are loved by the local people because they capture the "breath" of life, reflecting the realities of life with the transformations in the New Rural Area program, digital transformation, smart rural development, the land donation movement for road construction… even conflicts and the fight against corruption… while still upholding the beautiful humanistic values ​​and traditional values ​​of the Vietnamese people for generations. The diversity of the cheo plays and scenes makes the art of cheo more accessible and popular among the people. This is also one of the reasons why the folk art club of But Son town, especially the art of Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera), has become closer to the community.

“To preserve and promote the value of traditional Cheo theater, I think we have to overcome certain obstacles. One of the reasons is that the lyrics of traditional Cheo plays are associated with stories that are quite difficult for the younger generation to understand,” Mr. Chi said. Therefore, nowadays, in addition to traditional Cheo melodies, he and his colleagues often compose and popularize short Cheo scenes with content that focuses directly on the main issue, making it easier for actors to remember and learn.

Another reason why the traditional opera of Hoang Hoa resonates so widely is the dedication of artisans like Mr. Chi in teaching. Mr. Chi began teaching in 2001, and after 22 years, his students have grown to hundreds in and outside of Hoang Hoa district. Despite being 74 years old and with declining health, he wholeheartedly teaches and inspires passion wherever and whenever needed.

Van Anh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dat-va-nguoi/cuoc-dao-choi-nen-duyen-voi-cheo/206890.htm