“I am not a keen believer in the “classic” metaphor which compares an artist’s life with a silkworm’s. Because sometimes it is mistakenly thought to be a cynical default to an artist. For a person working with arts, loneliness is an asset…” – People’s Artist Bach Tuyet shared with a PetroTimes’ reporter.
– As a veteran of cai luong, what are your views about cai luong Vietnam nowadays?
Cai luong today continues to exist as the very nature of its genre. It selectively employs sound, appearance, and modern lyrics while demonstrates its adaptability to any situation. A performance of a song is the result of a well-thought-out process so that it goes in accordance with the mindsets, interests, and the needs of the spectators. Cai luong is the rare traditional theater that appears and dominates in most gameshows and reality television shows.
Cai luong itself also holds an impressive position on entertainment channels. It is the sign of the existence and liveliness of cai luong, unless you could find another explanation!
People’s Artist Bach Tuyet
Until now, what in the reforming art does it make you concern most after over 50 years in the career?
For an artist, the biggest and most concern is the script. I do not have the habit of complaining or blaming of inadequacy, of deformation in a stage that is inherent, beautiful and virtous. I like to concentrate on getting inspiration from the scripts. If it is scarce, then I look into literature, classic and contemporary works. I even ask other authors and together we thrive to find sparks for writing, and carry it on with the musicians, artists, directors, and actors. As always, the process of creating an art work is the happiest endeavor.
If there is anything else that made me … hardly fall asleep, then it would be how these works of art are being conducted and presented to the audience with the utmost dignity, civilization and fullness. It would be a professional stage performance theater, the art space. It still remains … a dream!
Many people argue that young cai luong artists are facing many difficulties. There are not many places to perform. The “innovation” of the voice is not attractive to the audience. Plus in the modern society, young and new music genres are on the upswing making cai luong being gradually forgotten … What would you say about this point of view? I agree about the issue of the venue, the rest is a misconception. At any period of time, it must start from technical basis of the performance, and then progress to the sensibility, creativity and sublimated motions, and finally create a theatrical work. Cai luong is a combination of traditions and adaptability of modern life. It embraces contemporary art forms with calculation and refinements. Unless you are sloppy, arbitrary, and lack the background, then everything becomes a mess. This holds true to evertyhing, not just in art.
Therefore, I want to say again that once you have a strong career background, and you are careful in doing your job, then you will perform well in any performance environment.
In your opinion, is the vocal “reform” in cai luong Vietnam a good idea at the present time?
Reform is an aspect, a virtue of art. It is the root attribute in the formation of cai luong. The meaning of the word “cai luong” and of the reformation of society, education and culture in the early twentieth century was innovation. It brought a fresh breeze to Vietnamese society during the process of modernization.
You see, characters like Nguyet (in “Tô Ánh Nguyệt”), Luu (in “Life of Ms. Luu”) demonstrated the subtle spirit of a “new girl”, which was somewhat similar to the self-strengthening literary group, and French classical literature, in the process of refining the national language and modernizing Vietnamese literature. This quality continues to be a necessity for cai luong stage, not only in the art of performing but also in the scripts, staging, music… Artists are the final executors. Young actors must understand and realize that this is the requirement and the need of a play, of the public so that they are all in the same pace of the innovation and together bring a fresh breath for cai luong.
People often compare the artist as a silkworm. They “produce silk” all their lives to embellish life, but at the end they fall into a feeling of emptiness and pitiful loneliness… What do you feel about this belief as you yourself have also gone through this path?
I am not a keen believer in this “classic” metaphor. Because sometimes it is mistakenly thought to be a cynical default for an artist. For a person working with arts, loneliness is an asset. The emptiness that you just mentioned is a wonderful world in which only people, who work in the art field, are entitled to live in and breathe in, then why should we panic, fear, heart break, and pity them? I do not have such feelings. I live my life. I am an artist Bach Tuyet on the stage. At home, I am a normal person with the name given by my parents.
Currently, although being over 70s, the age at which most people prefer to rest and stay healthy, you still spend a lot of time on working. What do you think about this choice?
Being busy is not something you try to create, but because this life needs you and you need it. I am happy with a series of work that I select, arrange, and carry out. I feel well and am happy when I work. Rest and relaxation is a rhythm in my life.
Going through ups and downs, from tough times to the glory times… now looking back, could you summarize your life in a few sentences?
I am a lucky person who receive many blessings from my parents, relatives, teachers, colleagues and audiences. Sometimes, I can not avoid being clumsy, making mistakes with people I love and with those who love me. However, I don’t regret because even being at fault, I was always honest. As long as you are sincere with yourself and others, you will be happy and live life to the fullest.
Thank you for sharing!
Xuyến Chi – PetroTimes (29/01/2018)