The opera "A Thousand Years of Love", a beautiful picture by director Vu Hung

Meritorious Artist Le Trung Thao and Meritorious Artist Tu Suong in the play "A Thousand Years of Love"

On the evening of March 26, the emotional words of thanks to family, teachers, and colleagues of young director Vu Hung captured the hearts of the audience when watching the cai luong play he staged, "Ngan nam tinh su" (author Nguyen Quang Lap, adapted from cai luong by Pham Van Dang) at the Youth World Theater.

With the cai luong version, the director received guidance, support and instruction from previous directors such as: Meritorious Artist Le Nguyen Dat, Doctor Vo Yen. From there, a special effect was created, the space on the filming stage was handled, the scene changed with new light and music, creating an attraction for the audience when they opened their hearts to the emotional levels of the love between Thuan Khanh (the role of Meritorious Artist Tu Suong) and Ngo Tuan (Ly Thuong Kiet, the role of Meritorious Artist Le Trung Thao).

Director Vu Hung in the happy arms of artists and audiences after his performance of the play "A Thousand Years of Love"

Choosing the perspective of today's youth on the love of historical heroes, Vu Hung was too reckless, moreover, it was a script adapted from reformed opera.

First of all, he and author Pham Van Dang dared to face challenges and courageously overcame them to complete the work.

The story is interspersed in the historical flow with many events of the country, but the way of telling a character with so many unusual things like Ly Thuong Kiet, in the reformed version, easily convinces and finds deep sympathy from the audience.

Director Vu Hung's mother expressed her gratitude to teachers, fellow artists and audiences for their support of Vu Hung through his debut work.

If the stage production by Meritorious Artist Thanh Loc previously performed at Ben Thanh Theater created a portrait of Ly Thuong Kiet different from what history books had recorded, the character was more real, the pain was also very real, then in the reformed version by young director Vu Hung, in each verse imbued with humanity, the dialogues rich in literary quality were arranged by him into a beautiful poetic picture.

The Vietnamese historical opera is staged with great poetry.

Ly Thuong Kiet's love was so intense that they waited for each other for 24 long years and even though their bodies were old, the flute sound with the Luong Chau tune by the artificial mountain in Thuy Hoa Palace was still young.

Vu Hung did not go into too much detail about the greatness of a historical figure. He exploited the love story of Ly Thuong Kiet and Thuan Khanh in a very simple and poetic way.

Artist Hoai Thanh (Y Lan) and Le Trinh (Thuong Duong) in the opera "A Thousand Years of Love"

And Ly Thuong Kiet's journey to find true love, despite the storms and uncertainties, is still captivatingly beautiful.

That beauty is even more proud of the fate of the country, the hero temporarily puts aside personal feelings, and fights to protect the country. The presence of Thuan Khanh, the girl Ly Thuong Kiet loved, the wife he had promised to never lose.

The most touching scene is when Ly Thuong Kiet knew his lover was in the forbidden palace, but in order to meet the concubine Thuan Khanh, he was forced to strip and become a eunuch, to use the flute to carry his heavy love to Thuan Khanh, sending his heart-wrenching feelings. There was also the pain when his love was stolen by the king's order to recruit concubines.

Artist Chi Bao always supports young actors.

Another short but emotional scene is Thuan Khanh going to the temple to become a monk, Ly Thuong Kiet returning to his hometown, his hair now gray with time, Ly Thuong Kiet confessing that although he was a winner on the battlefield and never surrendered, he lost in his own life, Thuan Khanh asserted: "The one who guards a country, I guard a heart, what's the difference?"

And the image of the pure lotus pond, the water of their hometown can push them into silence, but that pure love is still as beautiful as the lotus.

The play "A Thousand Years of Love" creates opportunities for young actors to participate.

Set against the backdrop of Queen Shangyang's jealousy and resentment towards Y Lan, and Ly Dao Thanh's steadfastness and bravery in recognizing the jealousy that cannot bring peace to the country, the play has highlights that add weight to the main theme: "Love can fan the flames of hatred, it can only be resolved by humanity."

Choosing the inner struggles of the characters when facing the true love of their lives, Vu Hung found the emotional creative key for "A Thousand Years of Love Story".

A cai luong play that brings tears to the characters, to the talented cast, and to the majority of audiences who love Vietnamese history. After each scene, the applause breaks out, making the audience feel like they are in the characters’ emotions.

Artist Diep Duy and Meritorious Artist Le Trung Thao in the cai luong play "A Thousand Years of Love Story"

Meritorious Artist Tu Suong played the role of Thuan Khanh very convincingly. Every word, every line, every affectionate look, every lingering longing for Ly Thuong Kiet was as if she herself had lived and been haunted by the character Thuan Khanh.

Meritorious Artist Le Trung Thao portrayed the role of Ly Thuong Kiet very delicately. His greatest strength is acting, so the way he tells the story of Ly Thuong Kiet's life leads the audience into unusual levels where the cruel love of fate does not obscure the extraordinary beauty of Thuan Khanh's pure love.

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Equally important is the use of choreography, dance, and martial arts to help Vietnamese historical plays convey other messages about the will to protect the country, about the way of pacifying the world of the wise and above all, about winning people's hearts to create the glorious fight against invaders of Ly Thuong Kiet.

The poem "Nam Quoc Son Ha" affirms the powerful truth: Nam is a separate territorial nation, with clear borders, and the nation's right to independence and autonomy is sacred and inviolable.

The poem was included in the play to express the heroic spirit of the nation's iron will, sternly warning the invaders, and at the same time strongly encouraging our army and people to fight enthusiastically and firmly grasp victory.

Going down in history, the poem is considered the first "Declaration of Independence" of our nation after more than a thousand years of foreign feudal domination.

The play also features the participation of artists: Chi Bao, Hoai Thanh, Le Trinh, Diep Duy, Du Bao, Son Minh, Thanh Hai, Bao Trang... Music: Nguyen Nhit, Choreography: Thanh Son. The creative team has contributed to creating a Vietnamese historical play full of spirit, creating a turning point for young director Vu Hung to embark on the path of art.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/vo-cai-luong-ngan-nam-tinh-su-buc-tranh-dep-cua-dao-dien-vu-hung-196250327065057363.htm