Proudly portraying Uncle Ho's image

Premiering on the evening of August 11 and 12 at the Hanoi Opera House, the reformed opera "From Viet Bac to Hanoi" - part 3 of the artistic epic "Nguoi son van dam" - is a special mark of the Vietnam National Traditional Theater on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2 (1945-2025).

Rich in narrative and emotional depth

This Cai Luong stage production will recreate the nation’s important historical journey, adding a new milestone in the journey of portraying President Ho Chi Minh on the traditional stage. After its premiere in Hanoi, the play is expected to tour Ho Chi Minh City and many other provinces and cities.

Adapted by Hoang Song Viet from the novel by Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen The Ky, directed by Dr., People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien, part 3 of "From Viet Bac to Hanoi" takes the audience back in time. That is from when Nguyen Ai Quoc returned to the Fatherland in early 1941, traveling throughout the Viet Bac resistance zones to build up forces, to the August Revolution of 1945 and the historic moment when Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square.

People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien created a play rich in narrative, each performance has emotional depth. The audience will meet the character of Uncle Ho as a symbol of leadership, see him in everyday life with a very simple, delicate, decisive and humane acting style. "This is also the core for the artists participating in the work to express their emotions well, because the work about Uncle Ho really needs simplicity and sincerity" - People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien shared.

After careful consideration, Dr. - People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien chose artist Van Thuan - who not only has a suitable appearance but also has persistently practiced hard to achieve a voice and lyrics that reflect the spirit of Uncle Ho. Artist Van Thuan confided: "The most difficult thing is not to "resemble" Uncle Ho in appearance, but to express his character and soul, which is his experience, intelligence and immense love for his compatriots and soldiers. Every gesture of lifting a cup of tea, every step in the mountains and forests of Viet Bac, every determined look when discussing strategy... I had to carefully study from documentaries, images and from the meticulous instructions of the creative team".

Before artist Van Thuan, there were many artists who successfully portrayed the character of Uncle Ho on stage such as: People's Artist Thanh Dien, People's Artist Tran Luc, artists Minh Hai, Hoang Quoc Thanh...

Balancing epic and viewer emotion

"From Viet Bac to Hanoi" continues the tradition of Vietnamese theater in staging works about President Ho Chi Minh. Previously, many plays have left a deep impression such as "White Night", "Old Traces", "Legendary Portrait", "Journey to Find the Portrait", "Fatherland at the End of the Road"... In each play, in each period, the artists find their own way to portray: sometimes Uncle Ho at the negotiating table, sometimes Uncle Ho in the war zone, sometimes Uncle Ho in a moment of quiet contemplation.

The common point of these works is that they not only recreate the portrait of the leader, but also touch the audience's hearts with simple, everyday but moving moments - so that Uncle Ho is not only a political figure but also a close, compassionate person.

The investment in staging "From Viet Bac to Hanoi" with a team of many famous artists such as People's Artist Trong Dai (music), People's Artist Doan Bang (art), Meritorious Artist Tien Dai (costumes), Pham Huong (make-up of Uncle Ho)... shows the determination of the Vietnam National Traditional Theater in creating a work that is both historically accurate and artistically moving.

Not simply a retelling of events, this cai luong play is a profound tribute to the leader who led the nation through major turning points. When the curtain closed, the image of Uncle Ho, simple in faded khaki, bright eyes and gentle smile, still remained in the hearts of the audience. That image reminds us that history is not only in books, but also alive in art, in the memories of every Vietnamese person.

"From Viet Bac to Hanoi" proves that Cai Luong - despite being more than a century old - is still capable of handling big topics, as long as the creative team finds a way to harmonize the epic and the audience's emotions. Choosing the right actors, creating a convincing artistic space, and especially the character maintaining the "spirit" of Uncle Ho, are the factors that make the play successful.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tu-hao-khac-hoa-hinh-tuong-bac-ho-196250808214152853.htm