VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Bich Thuy, a 30-year-old lecturer at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music, was awarded fourth prize at the International Vocal Competition held in China’s Ningbo City.

Opera singer Nguyen Bich Thuy. (Photo: SGGP)

The competition is held every three years under a different theme each time, with this year’s theme focusing on opera. Thuy was selected among 200 contestants from 26 countries including the US, Russia, Canada, China and South Korea. To finish the way she did, Thuy had to pass through three rounds of tough competition.

As Thuy’s master, Kien accompanied her to China for the length of the competition from October 7-20, and witnessed how Thuy overcame the pressure.

During the contest, contestants weren’t allowed to use microphones in the theatre that seats 1,000.

Among 200 candidates, only 12 were chosen for the final round. In this round, two contestants chose to sing Chinese opera songs, including Thuy and one other Chinese competitor. Thuy came out on top, with a song that originated from a well-known poem by Dufu, a poet from the Tang nasty.

“The poem is very difficult but if expressed successfully, it would impress the audience. That’s why I advised Thuy to choose it, Kien. “And now she’s brought glory to her homeland.”

Thuy has previously several prizes from various international music contests, including a first prize at the Bangkok Vocal Opera Competition 2002.

(Source: Viet Nam News)