Sweet folk voice over the years

Singer Thai Bao has reaped many sweet fruits after a long time of hard work and cultivation. In 2023 alone, she won a high prize at the national amateur stage with her sweet voice bearing the mark of her homeland.

Singer Thai Bao: Sweet folk voice over the years

Singer Thai Bao.

Looking at singer Thai Bao (born in 1965) on stage, few people would think that she is nearly 60 years old. Her sweet, soulful folk voice that once touched the hearts of Ha Tinh audiences is now heard on the stage of the Hanoi Opera House, moving audiences across the country. It seems that the source of mother's milk, the origin of her homeland, the affection left by generations have penetrated deeply into her soul, becoming passionate and loving lyrics.

Growing up from the mass art movement, then working at the Traditional Art Theater for 23 years, until now, although retired, Thai Bao still "keeps the fire" of his passion for art. In her singing career, the music genre she is passionate about, puts all her emotions and enthusiasm into performing and has achieved the most success is still folk music: Vi Giam (including Vi Do Dua, Vi Phuong Vai, Xam Nghe, Giam Lu, Giam Ke...), songs using Vi Giam and Ca Tru melodies.

“I have loved and followed folk music for decades. Now that I have retired, I have returned to the mass movement, both staging and rehearsing for clubs and directly participating in performances. For me, the mass movement is where I have the opportunity to contribute my small talent, to flourish, and to relive my artistic youth.”

Talking about her performance style to attract audiences, Thai Bao shared: “With a song, to touch the hearts of the audience, in addition to the voice, you also have to combine the eyes, smile, steps, in short, put emotions into the performance style”. The A prize for the solo performance “Proud of Motherland Today” (Nghe Xam, Hoang Ba Ngoc composed the lyrics, and the dance group accompanied) is a worthy reward for her at the National Elderly Singing Festival in 2023.

Singer Thai Bao: Sweet folk voice over the years

The Nghe Xam performance "Proud of Motherland Today" (composed by Meritorious Artist Hoang Ba Ngoc) performed by singer Thai Bao and a supporting dance group won the A prize at the 2023 National Elderly Singing Festival.

“Cau doi cau cho”, “Ha Tinh que minh”, “Cung dan Thuy Kieu”… are works by Ngoc Thinh that Thai Bao seems to have poured all his love into to perform. The folk tendency, imbued with the breath of Nghe Tinh folk songs, the deep, soulful affection of Thai Bao’s voice has greatly influenced Ngoc Thinh’s emotions and music. During the times Ha Tinh celebrated Nguyen Du’s birthday, the song “Cung dan Thuy Kieu” performed by Thai Bao and the dance group of the Traditional Arts Theater left a deep impression on people’s hearts.

Until now, Ngoc Thinh is still secretly grateful to his co-star, his loyal, hard-working life partner, who devotes everything to his husband and children. “Thai Bao has given my music wings to fly high. We are very much in tune. During the difficult years, when I finished composing a song but needed to invest in arranging it to bring it to the public, my wife always took care of it, even borrowed money so that I could have enough money to cover the expenses. When I was studying in Hanoi, my salary was low, the house was makeshift, but Thai Bao still took care of the housework and singing. Now it is the same, I work in Hanoi, she stays at home to take care of everything so that I can work with peace of mind, the children can study and work with peace of mind, and she also actively participates in mass movements” - Ngoc Thinh confided about his beloved wife and colleague.

Singer Thai Bao: Sweet folk voice over the years

Until now, although retired, singer Thai Bao still "keeps the fire" of his passion for art.

Having a special voice, but if you don't practice hard and stay loyal to your profession, it will be difficult to succeed, especially when the singer is old. For Thai Bao, she cannot forget the hard years of raising 3 young children, being a "launching pad" for her husband, and practicing and performing. There were nights when she sang 2-3 songs at once or sang the lead in a poetic play, coming home late at night, exhausted, but the next morning she still had to wake up early, busy taking care of her children. The love for the songs of her ancestors and the stage lights attracted her, before and now, despite the hardships of life. She herself is sometimes surprised by her singing voice at the age of nearly 60. And many Ha Tinh audiences, when listening to her singing without even looking at her, immediately recognized Thai Bao's voice.

Meritorious Artist Hoang Ba Ngoc shared: “Xam Nghe is a genre of Vi Giam that is very difficult to sing, but Thai Bao performed my work excellently. Her singing technique, performance style, especially her sweet and high-pitched, soulful and lyrical voice conquered audiences nationwide. I am very grateful to her! She is very deserving of the A prize for solo singing “Proud of Motherland Today”.

Video: Nghe Xam performance "Proud of motherland today".

From 1991-2014, singer Thai Bao was an actress at the Ha Tinh Traditional Arts Theater. She won 3 gold medals and 6 silver medals at national professional festivals and performances. With her tireless contributions to art, she was awarded certificates of merit by the Provincial People's Committee, the Vietnam Musicians Association, Vietnam Television, and the Vietnam Association of the Elderly.

Bui Minh Hue

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