People’s Artist – PhD Bach Tuyet said if music singers agree to participate in cai luong, they must prepare themselves and not to blame because they are music singers they are not good in singing cai luong.
In the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the formation and development of cai luong throughout North and South, with nearly 60 years working in this traditional art, what makes you most concern about cai luong?
Cai luong was born 100 years ago at the time when our country was in a continuous war; peaceful days were only in a few decades. Our predecessors mainly handed down their profession since they had no time to train young artists methodically. That is something I feel sorry for our people!
People’s Artist – PhD Bach Tuyet
Living means having concerns. I am very excited about the current change of the country, but it unfortunately goes in the opposite direction to the development of Vietnamese culture. There is an old saying “settling down follows by working in contentment”, but Vietnamese artists have not yet settled. We do not have many qualified theaters to cater to the artists as well as to serve the audience. This should not be the case for the country claiming to be developing, because for a developing country, culture should be the first in line. When we are equipped with education and culture, we will be respected in any field.
The reason we now see a lot of news in the press about rages. One stabs another person after a minor altercation, resulting death and jail time. It is partly because our education and culture have not received enough attention.
The audiences do not have theaters to come and listen to messages in order to understand this world needs sympathy.That is my concern. Cai luong or any other art form follows a parabolic path, up to the peak and then rolling to the bottom and going back up again. Moreover, cai luong is the national melody. If you care for it, then give it a decent venue for it to grow. But if being neglected, it will “tumble” with the public.
This is the era of digital technology and global network, thus each individual is an important element. Before, audience came to theaters. Now, the shows come to the public. Though the approach is different, the value stays the same.
There is no shortage of young artists in cai luong. However, in recent years, there is the arrival of artists from other areas, such as singers, actors, MC… Does this trend serve the purpose of public relation (PR) rather than renew cai luong?
Actually, cai luong is a large scale art and is both traditional and modern. It can be considered as a link between past and future. Everything can come into cai luong because cai luong itself is composed of poetry, singing, dancing, music, drama, so a performer can do many things. Then why can music singers not sing cai luong if they are passionate about it and serious in the practice? This proves cai luong is constantly evolving. About inviting a music singer to sing cai luong for the purpose of PR, I think every field needs PR. As long as we put it in the right place, and determine to whom it is for… then we will succeed. It would be a little strange if an art form does not renew itself, because it seems abnormal without change.
And when a music singer accepts to participate in cai luong, you have to prepare yourself and not to blame because you are a music singer, you cannot sing cai luong well. Otherwise, you should not take part. If you accept to participate, you should try your best to commit it.
Besides teaching and directing, you are quite enthusiastic in studying how to integrate cai luong with modern music. Is this one of the ways you want to preserve and bring cai luong closer to young audience?
Covering music hits comes from my hobby and I ask for permission from the song writers as well as discuss with the singers to fulfill it. Cai luong means inherently renewing and following the trend. The problem is whether its content and what it offers is useful to the audience or not?
There is no society without a book, movie or a play. Cai luong artists are still loved and remembered until now by the audience not because of their names, but because they appeared in the performances that make the audience feel this artwork is worthy. The artists only contribute to the singing and acting with carefully studying and rehearsal, but without the playwright’s message, no one cares to watch the performance. Therefore, it is essential for cai luong to have upscale theaters like those around the world and how we have valuable plays for the public.
I do not have plan to cover any song in the near future, but if I listen to a song and feel the desire and aspiration for this period of time, then why would I not continue?
Recently, some arguments discourage cai luong on YouTube and on social network because it promotes free viewing compared to paying for tickets at the theater in the young audience. This opinion contrasted with the idea of preserving and developing the traditional art, as it is necessary to encourage the love and passion for cai luong in the young generation. What do you think about this?
We need to observe and listen to be able to adapt to today’s life. There are things we could do yesterday, but no longer suitable today. We should find out the reason why. If a cai luong artist with true talent and passion performs valuable plays, then surely the audience will follow them.
If we want to exist, we need to cherish, be considerate and adapt, instead of criticize or step backward to the past.
Costumes in cai luong also becomes controversial when the experts say that over many periods of development, they are being abused and do not reflect the history at time, thus devaluing the beauty of the performance art. Most recently, the costumes for the character of Empress Duong Van Nga in the play of the same name directed by Hoa Ha was criticized to resemble a Chinese queen’s. What is your point of view on this issue?
Everything in this life is not about good or bad, but it is about whether it is the right topic being placed in the right place and at the right time? We cannot look at an artwork in separate pieces and say this is good and the other is not because its value lies in the panorama. This world is multi-dimensional, and the differences make it richer. We have to become familiar to the differences and not as we wish in order to have a fair view. Otherwise, we would not only move backward but also become obsolete. For today’s audience, their habit of enjoying arts is different, why don’t we learn to understand it?
As a saying in the play Ms. Luu’s Life that I always remember “You just go over there, see how everyone does, and follow them, then you will do it right.” For cai luong or any type of art, if you want to survive, provide what people need! All the magnificent efforts will be embraced and stay in the heart of the audience. It is the highest achievement that cai luong needs to have.
You have accepted to be a judge of the contest Inherent Star third season, do you have any difficulty in arranging your schedule?
I always think that my obligation is an artist, not a judge. In accepting an invitation to participate in any program, I choose the one that is closest to my specialty. Sitting in the judges’ panel of the competition, I consider it as the responsibility of my profession and contribute ideas for younger generations to improve. This is also an opportunity to nurture the traditional art, so if I can arrange my time, I will take part.
Thanh Ngọc – Doi Song & Phap Ly Magazine (17/05/2018)