20 years of "Shining Golden Bell"

Le Hoang Nghi - "Golden Bell of Traditional Opera" 2024.

“Chuong Vang Vong Co” is a contest to find talents in vọng cổ and cải lương theater, organized by Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) since 2006. After 20 years, this has truly been a playground for theater talents to satisfy their passion and demonstrate their qualities, thereby adding new elements and capabilities to cải lương theater. According to Mr. Tran Hien Phuong, Deputy of the Arts Department - HTV, and also one of the founders of this contest, “Chuong Vang Vong Co” was born with the idea of organizing a non-specialized contest like the Trần Hữu Trang Award, with a television version and providing opportunities for talented young people. One of the reasons Mr. Phuong conceived this idea was that during his visit to the house of People's Artist Minh Vuong, he saw the “Khoi Nguyen vọng cổ” Award that People's Artist Minh Vuong achieved when he was only 14 years old.

And in 2006, the “Golden Bell of Southern Folk Songs” rang for the first time, with the coronation of the young man from Tay Do, Vo Minh Lam, at the age of 17. With his beauty and confidence on stage, everyone predicted that he would “ring the golden bell forever” and that prediction has been completely correct so far. Vo Minh Lam has been awarded the title of Meritorious Artist, a bright face on the stage today. He is also the coach of “Golden Bell of Southern Folk Songs” in 2025, continuing to inspire the younger generation.

20 years of “Golden Bell of Traditional Opera”, Can Tho has made a clear mark as the hometown or the place that nurtures the passion of a series of “Golden Bells” and “Silver Bells”. Besides Vo Minh Lam, there are also Thu Van, Trung Dang, Huyen Trang, Kim Cuong, Nhu Y… Most recently, Le Hoang Nghi, a student at Can Tho College of Culture and Arts, was crowned “Golden Bell of Traditional Opera” in 2024.

The competition is also a launching pad for the talents of many artists, who have now achieved many noble titles such as People's Artist Ho Ngoc Trinh, Meritorious Artist Ngoc Doi, Meritorious Artist Vo Minh Lam, Meritorious Artist Thu Van, Meritorious Artist Vo Thanh Phe, Meritorious Artist Minh Ly... And now, they have become coaches and judges, continuing to "pave the sand for gold" for the cai luong stage from "Chuong Vang Vong Co".

The documentary “Golden Bell Shines” recounts the journey from the early days to the past 20 years of a famous competition. The production team met and listened to the thoughts of those who have built the brand of the competition over the past 20 years. The audience was moved when watching the sharing of the late veteran artists who had accompanied the competition such as Professor Tran Van Khe, People's Artist Diep Lang, People's Artist Thanh Tong; or artists who are still passionate about the competition such as People's Artist Minh Vuong, People's Artist Bach Tuyet, People's Artist Thanh Tuan... The film also tells about the "behind the scenes" that made the competition successful, such as the orchestra, the people who silently contributed to the success of the contestants. Meritorious Artist Hoang Thanh said: "Seeing that the contestants were not in sync with the orchestra, we were very sad and worried, did not want to eat, only knew to practice actively to help the contestants' performances become better."

Not only "reviewing the past" but also "showing gratitude", the documentary "Shining Golden Bell" also raises the issue of the future of the competition, with the question: How can the art of Cai Luong continue to shine, reaching young audiences in the digital age?

Documentary “Golden Bell Shines” by director Le Thi Thuy Trang, broadcast on HTVm application and digital platforms of TFS Film Studio.

Article and photos: DANG HUYNH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/20-nam-chuong-vang-toa-sang--a191465.html