A text message at 4:38 a.m. Tuesday informed me that Huynh Phuc Dien, the architect of nine of Thanh Nien’s Charming Vietnam gala shows, had passed away.

We, in his close circle, knew this would happen but it was still a shock when it finally did.

We knew this day would come ever since he announced he had liver cancer at a press conference at the Thanh Nien newspaper’s office when we were preparing for the 19th Thanh Nien Charming Vietnam Gala in January 2008.

I remember when he announced the news. It was a shock to many of us as it seemed until then that Dien was perfectly normal. I recognized something different about this young music director - his strong will, his powerful desire to live.

Thanh Nien’s 19th Charming Vietnam Gala had been focused on the theme “Street.” The musical show reproduced the scenes of Vietnamese streets from the old days to the streets during the war and now during the time of peace.

The audience was moved and thrilled because of the show and the director’s creativity.

I remember when I was introduced to Dien for the first time during the 10th Charming Vietnam Gala in 2001.

Then it was the 13th Charming Vietnam Gala in 2004, and it was the first time in Vietnam there was a musical show with incredible special effects.

The one who directed that was really young, in his 30s, and was educated in the country.

And I remember the Charming Vietnam Gala in Australia. We worked so well together.

That time in Australia, the gala was titled “Xa va Gan” (Far and Near). It received great acclaim from overseas Vietnamese residents and foreigners.

One member of the audience wrote: “I was so proud of the show and I wanted so much to tell the Chinese girl sitting next to me and the Australian nearby that they were so lucky to experience a full, very full picture of the culture of Vietnam.”

I knew then I had chosen the right director.

Since the year’s beginning, I have not written anything. This is my first editorial and I want to write about his departure, a talented director at 40. He left the world too early with too much energy.

I remember I have had to say goodbye to too many talented friends recently: professor Vinh Linh, a former cell mate, music writer Pham The My, and songwriter Bao Phuc.

Now it’s Dien, Vietnam’s showbiz wizard. These people left us when life still dearly needs them.

By Nguyen Cong Khe