VietNamNet takes a look at the history of opera in Vietnam from “Ms Sao”, created in 1965 by composer Do Nhuan, to recent efforts to re-tell traditional Vietnamese stories through both art forms.

After nearly 45 years, art fans still remember “Co Sao”, the first opera of Vietnam. The opera was introduced by the Vietnam Opera Ballet Theatre and helped popularize the art form in Vietnam.

After “Co Sao”, the theatre arranged other famous operas like “Mountains and Forests Raise their Voices”, “On the Krongpa Bank”, “The Sculptor”, “Sister Su” and “Breaking out of Prison”.

After the war, new operas were introduced, including “Philedo” (L.V. Beethoven), “Gadfly” (Antonio Spadavecchia), “Green Singing Voice” by Nguyen Dinh Tan and “Truong Chi” by An Thuyen.

In the 1980s, many classical operas were brought to Vietnamese stages, such as “Spartacus”, “Giselle”, “Swan Lake”, “Madame Butterfly” and “The Vagrant and the Young Lady”.

Other Vietnamese operas appeared, including “Truong Chi’s Singing” and “Mr. and Mrs. A Phu” by Doan Long, “Mother Legend” by Nguyen Cong Nhac and “Truong Son Legend” by Bang Thinh.

The theatre’s younger generation also proved their talents in performances of “Truong Chi’s Soul”, “Source of Light”, “Lovesick” and “Fire-Fly Season”.

The theatre’s director, Pham Anh Phuong, revealed that the theatre is trying to arrange operas that combine Vietnamese cultural stories with opera and ballet. They are also working on a project to bring opera and ballet to schools.

Minh Tue