 A Cheo performance by Ha Nam art troupe at the opening ceremony of The 2022 National Cheo Festival. (Photo: hanamtv.vn) |
Cheo (Vietnamese traditional opera) has long been an integral part of the cultural and spiritual life of Vietnamese people, particularly in the Red River Delta.
This year’s festival drew nearly 1,500 Cheo artists from 16 troupes around the country, giving performances that harmonize ideology and contemporary and traditional cultural identity.
According to the jury, all performances were presented in a creative and appealing way, entertaining traditional Cheo lovers and inspiring young audiences.
“27 Cheo plays were presented in a creative and contemporary manner featuring artistic and moral values. They guide the audience to love, humanity and encourage people to lead a good life. They also depict peace and the beauty of the homeland and criticize evil,” said Dr. Tran Tri Trac, Chairman of the Arts Council of the National Cheo Festival 2022.
The Cheo performances featured narratives, romance, dramatics, bringing all kinds of feelings to the audience.
 The play “The land and the sea” by Thanh Hoa Traditional Arts Theatre (Photo: tin247.news) |
The play “The land and the sea” by Thanh Hoa Traditional Arts Theatre won first prize at the festival. It consisted of 2 stories, creating two spaces for the land and the sea. The play featured soldiers on Truong Sa (Spratly) islands and the hardships of their loved ones in the homeland.
 Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong speaks at the closing ceremony of the 2022 National Cheo Festival. (Photo: hanamtv.vn) |
6 performances won gold medals and featured the topics of history and folk literature. Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong said the National Cheo Festival 2022 aims to promote creativity as well as search for solutions to further develop the folk music genre in the modern world.
“The National Cheo Festival 2022 implements the Party’s resolution on building and developing Vietnamese culture and people. It is also an opportunity for State management agencies and relevant associations to work out strategies to develop Vietnam theatres in general and Cheo in particular. It also evokes passion and love from artists and the audience for Cheo,” said Dong.
Last October, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism made a dossier asking for UNESCO recognition of Cheo as a World Cultural Heritage.