Hat Boi resounds in the death anniversary of famous person Dao Tan

(GLO)- Last weekend, at the Temple of Cultural Celebrity Dao Tan (Vinh Thanh 1 Village, Tuy Phuoc Commune), the 118th anniversary of the death of the late founder of the art of hát bội was not only an occasion to pay tribute to the ancestors, but also an opportunity for artists to exchange and join hands to preserve the heritage of hát bội Bình Định.

After the incense offering ceremony to pay tribute to the cultural celebrity Dao Tan, the space at the Hoc Bo Dinh (located in the grounds of Dao Tan Temple) became bustling with the sounds of drums, trumpets, and two-stringed fiddles playing the melodies of Hat Boi, evoking the spirit of a golden age of Hat Boi theater in Dao Tan's homeland.

Artists perform excerpts from the opera Quan Cong and his second wife (The Ancient Citadel). Photo: Ngoc Nhuan

Excerpts from the opera series composed and edited by Dao Tan, including: Quan Cong assists the second wife (play Co Thanh), Tiet Cuong fights the hammer (play Son Hau) performed by artists from the opera troupes Phuoc An, Nhon Hung, and Tran Quang Dieu, attracted audiences.

For the people of Vinh Thanh village in particular and Tuy Phuoc in general, hát bội is not only an art, but also a link between the past and the present in a place where the “deeply rooted” hát bội heritage is passed down to this day. Many elderly audiences are engrossed in watching the performers, humming along to the lyrics of each hát bội character.

Mr. Dang Van Tuan (77 years old, in Vinh Thanh 2 village, Tuy Phuoc commune) shared: “People here are very fond of opera! Every year, we come to offer incense on the death anniversary of cultural celebrity Dao Tan and wait to watch opera. I know many opera plays by heart, so watching and singing along makes me even more excited.”

In the homeland of the late founder of hát bội, Đào Tấn, hát bội still has a strong vitality, and is “kept alive” by many generations of non-professional artists. Especially, during every festival season or on the occasion of worshiping at temples, shrines, or the death anniversary of Đào Tấn, the sound of hát bội echoes, demonstrating the love of traditional theatrical arts of the Tuy Phước people.

Artist Le Van Nghiep (Tuy Phuoc Tay commune) - actor of Phuoc An Opera Troupe, confided: "Every time I get to transform into an opera character performing on the Hoc Bo Dinh stage, I feel like I'm living in the artistic space of my ancestors. Being able to participate in the performance at the annual death anniversary of Dao Tan is an honor, motivating us to continue preserving this unique traditional art form."

Meritorious Artist Kim Chung (Tuy Phuoc Tay Commune) - actor of Tran Quang Dieu Tuong Art Troupe, excitedly shared: "The good news for us is that Tuy Phuoc Commune will soon establish Tuy Phuoc Tuong Club, which is expected to open a new direction."

According to Mr. Thai Van Thuan, Vice Chairman of Tuy Phuoc Commune People's Committee, the local cultural tourism development orientation is focusing on many solutions to preserve and promote the value of the Dao Tan Temple, Vinh Thanh communal house, Vinh Thanh village landscape and the heritage of Tuong opera. Tourists coming to Tuy Phuoc not only visit the Temple but also enjoy excerpts of Tuong opera.

“We identify hát bội as a part of the cultural soul of the homeland of the cultural celebrity Đào Tấn. In addition to maintaining the memorial ceremony for Đào Tấn, the commune is planning to establish the Tuy Phước hát bội club. This will be a “playground” for artists to exchange and teach hát bội to the younger generation at the Học bộ đình, as well as bring hát bội to schools. Thereby, arousing the pride and responsibility of the community towards the heritage left by their ancestors,” said Mr. Thuận.

Audience watching hát bội at Học bộ đình. Photo: Ngọc Nhuận

From this year's death anniversary in a warm and solemn atmosphere, to the upcoming steps of Tuy Phuoc commune, it can be expected that the art of hát bội associated with the name Đào Tấn will be preserved and promoted more strongly, to truly "live" with today's life.

As Meritorious Artist Le Hoa (An Nhon Dong Ward) - Deputy Head of Nhon Hung Tuong Art Troupe, shared: “What we are most concerned about is that the generation of Tuong artists is getting older, and we want a younger generation to succeed us. We are willing to teach for free, as long as there are students. If Tuy Phuoc Tuong Club is established, we will wholeheartedly contribute.”

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/hat-boi-ngan-vang-trong-le-gio-danh-nhan-dao-tan-post566036.html