People's Artist Thanh Tong - The leading bird makes a spectacular transformation
Minh To originated from the opera founded by the Vinh Xuan producer and his wife, then passed it on to his son, Thang. Thang in turn passed it on to his son, Minh To. But by Minh To's generation, the wave of Taiwanese, Chaozhou, and Guangdong films and plays entered Saigon with strange melodies that attracted audiences. At that time, Saigon Television also wanted to have a Chinese opera program like that to broadcast, so it was assigned to Minh To and Thanh Ton (Minh To's brother-in-law, Meritorious Artist Thanh Loc's father). The two men accepted the assignment but discussed not keeping the original foreign repertoire but inserting the melodies of Cai Luong, choreography, and performance style of Hat Boi, thus the name "Cai Luong Ho Quang".
Artists Truong Son and Thanh Loan in the play Saddle Poem
Thanh Tong is the fourth child of Mr. Minh To. At the age of 3, he stepped onto the stage to play a child role and was fascinated by it. Later, he dropped out of school to pursue the profession early. However, he had his own path of self-study, loved reading and writing, and at the age of 20, he wrote a series of scripts that brought Vietnamese stories and characters into Cantonese, such as Luu Binh - Duong Le, Pham Cong - Cuc Hoa, An Duong Vuong, Trieu Thi Trinh, Luc Van Tien, etc. The "Vietnamization" was once again warmly received by the audience.
After 1975, Thanh Tong attended training courses organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and determined to further Vietnamize Ho Quang reformed opera. He composed a series of historical scripts about Ly Dao Thanh, Tran Thu Do, Nguyen Hue, Tran Quoc Toan, To Hien Thanh, Mac Mau Hop, Princess An Tu... and almost abandoned all Taiwanese melodies, replacing them with new melodies composed by his uncle, musician Duc Phu. He also changed any imported pieces he kept, singing them differently and bringing out a clearer Vietnamese sound. He also abandoned the imported dances, and composed his own dances. It was these innovations that led the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture to choose the name "cai luong tuong co" to distinguish it from the previous Ho Quang reformed opera.
Cai luong tuong co has won the audience spectacularly, and it is the historical plays that have made the Minh To family famous. This family has had more worthy artists such as: Xuan Yen, Thanh Loan, Minh Tam, Cong Minh, Thanh Son, Truong Son, Bach Le, Bach Lien, Thanh Bach, Dien Thanh, Buu Truyen, Que Tran, Trinh Trinh, Tu Suong, Thanh Thao, Dien Trung... including both biological children and sons-in-law, performing artists and costume, music, and dance experts... Not to mention the branch of People's Artist Thanh Ton has Thanh Loc, famous for his drama. It can be said that this is a special family in the historical flow of Vietnamese theater.
Saddle poem welcomes April 30
Among the historical plays of People's Artist Thanh Tong, the three plays Cau Tho Yen Ngua, Buc Ngon Do Dai Viet and To Hien Thanh Xu An are the most prominent. In previous years, audiences had to queue up to buy tickets. Now, they will be restored one by one with the investment of producer Hoang Song Viet. Mr. Viet said: "I have loved these plays since I was a little kid, and the audience also loves them because they are very patriotic, protecting the country, and are very meticulous and artistically attractive. This April will open with Cau Tho Yen Ngua to celebrate the 50th anniversary of National Reunification Day". People's Artist Que Tran, daughter of People's Artist Thanh Tong, also expressed: "Our generation is restless with the legacy left by our father, wishing to restore it, and fortunately we met producer Hoang Song Viet who shares the same passion. What's even more gratifying is that Cau Tho Yen Ngua is being staged by director Hoa Ha, she is one of the most talented directors today".
Meritorious Artist Tu Suong, People's Artist Que Tran and director, Meritorious Artist Hoa Ha at the press conference about the restoration of the historical play of the Minh To family.
Director, Meritorious Artist Hoa Ha said: "I will ensure the original quality of the script that was once directed by People's Artist Thanh Tong and has been deeply imprinted in the hearts of the audience. However, I also create new things so that young audiences can understand history better. For example, clarifying the details of the historical moment of internal turmoil when Ly Thuong Kiet assisted Y Lan, and Ly Dao Thanh assisted Thuong Duong, causing the Song army to take advantage of it and send troops to invade. In the end, why did the two men come back together to fight the enemy? Or why did the two king's wives turn from being close to each other to turning against each other?"
The artists participating in the play are mostly from the Minh To family, such as Tu Suong, Que Tran, Thanh Thao, Dien Trung, Cong Minh, Thanh Son, Minh Tam, Xuan Truc... In addition, there are other artists such as Vo Minh Lam, Nha Thy, Bao Tri... who are all skilled and admired by the audience. The play Cau Tho Yen Ngua is expected to be performed on April 19 at Tran Huu Trang Theater (HCMC).
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phuc-dung-nhung-vo-cai-luong-lich-su-cua-gia-toc-minh-to-185250302223100293.htm
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