Warm and meaningful theater anniversary

Every year on the 12th day of the 8th lunar month, Ho Chi Minh City stage artists celebrate the death anniversary of their profession. This year, this day falls on a weekend, so there are additional cai luong performances.

Artists from Tran Huu Trang Theater perform in the program Respecting the ancestors - Preserving the essence on the evening of October 2 - Photo: LINH DOAN

For the past week, many stages, theaters, and artists have been preparing for the anniversary of their ancestors. Theater artists always believe that their ancestors will bless and protect them on their career path. This year, the anniversary falls on three days: October 2, 3, and 4 (August 11, 12, and 13 of the lunar calendar). August 12 of the lunar calendar has now been recognized by the State as Vietnam Theater Day.

Solemn death anniversary of the theater founder

The first venue was the Theatre Ancestral Temple in Co Bac (Cau Ong Lanh Ward) on the morning of October 2. This is considered the common ancestral temple of theatre artists. The ceremony was organized by the Artists' Association of the Ho Chi Minh City Theatre Association.

During the three days of the death anniversary, theaters in the city simultaneously held death anniversary ceremonies.

The Ho Chi Minh City Opera House held the main anniversary on October 3rd, and many veteran artists attended because the theater performed all the rituals with very methodical, solemn, and neat opera performances to pay tribute to the ancestors.

Not only artists but also audiences want to come and see to know what the full theater ancestor worship ceremony is like.

This year is even more special when the City's Opera Theatre also held a ceremony to receive valuable documents and artifacts of opera donated by the family of People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi.

Artists of Hoang Thai Thanh Stage gathered to burn incense to their ancestors on October 3 - Photo: Hoang Thai Thanh Stage

This year's anniversary is also the day artists heard news of the huge damage that people in the Central and Northern regions are suffering due to the impact of storm Bualoi.

Without anyone telling anyone, the money from the memorial service at Co Bac Theater Ancestor Temple, Nghe Si Pagoda, and Trinh Kim Chi Theater was all given to the people in the flood-hit areas. 5B Drama Theater asked the artists who came to pay their respects at 5B to donate the money to the people suffering from natural disasters instead of preparing offerings.

Quoc Thao and Huynh Long stages quickly called on fellow artists to contribute support. Artist Viet Huong of Truong Hung Minh Stage made moon cakes and donated 100 million VND to people in the storm-hit areas.

And many stage artists came to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to share their feelings with the people. The death anniversary of the stage is therefore very meaningful, demonstrating the responsibility of the artists to the community and society.

Artist Que Tran will organize a performance to celebrate the death anniversary of her ancestors and help workers and backstage staff in difficult circumstances on the night of October 13 - Photo: LINH DOAN

Cai luong performance to celebrate the death anniversary of the founder

Every year, artist Binh Tinh - the producer of the Huynh Long classical opera troupe - invests heavily in two major performances: Tet season and the death anniversary of the founder.

Confiding with Tuoi Tre, Binh Tinh said the reason Huynh Long invested heavily in the program of the ancestor's death anniversary is because they see this as an opportunity to report and show off to the group what they have done in the past year, hoping that the group will love and bless them with more new successes on the upcoming journey.

Ancestor worship atmosphere at Huynh Long Ancient Tuong Troupe on the evening of October 3 - Video : LINH DOAN

If every year Huynh Long staged a big play to offer to the ancestors, this year he made a special program with famous excerpts of the late artist Bach Mai (directed by director Huu Quoc) taking place on the evening of October 3 at Hong Lien theater (ie Hau Giang Cultural Center, Binh Tay ward). As usual, tickets for the program were sold out before the show time.

On the evening of October 4, Chi Linh - Van Ha stage performed the Cai Luong play Ky An Tan Huong Lien (author Bao Kien, director Chi Linh) at Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theater. Artist Thy Nhung and her student who just won the Silver Bell of Vong Co 2025 Le Thi Ha Nhu will also have a performance to celebrate the death anniversary of the founder at her center in Phu Thanh ward on October 7.

Judge and coach Ho Ngoc Trinh of the 2025 Golden Bell of Traditional Opera, who is also the head of the Vam Co Cai Luong art troupe, after winning the award, quickly rehearsed for the ancestor's death anniversary performance called Cai Luong in New Ao Dai, which will take place on the evening of October 2.

Amateur music performance at Tran Huu Trang Theater during the theater's anniversary season - Photo: LINH DOAN

In this performance, in addition to the main artist of the troupe, Ho Ngoc Trinh invited many artists participating in the 2025 Golden Bell of Traditional Music to participate.

After the play Spring Night Dream, Tran Huu Trang Theater continued to hold a comprehensive cultural night to celebrate the death anniversary of its founder on the evening of October 2. On October 13, artist Que Tran also organized a cultural program at her vegetarian restaurant to celebrate the death anniversary and help workers and backstage workers in difficulty.

Artists offer incense to their ancestors at Truong Hung Minh stage - Photo: LINH DOAN

Film and music artists also sincerely pay their respects on the occasion of the death anniversary of their ancestors. They often spend three days on the death anniversary going around all the stages and theaters they have collaborated with to burn incense for their ancestors.

The death anniversary is also an opportunity for artists to sit together, chat, bond, and remember their predecessors and the beautiful memories they experienced on their career path.

LINH DOAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gio-to-san-khau-am-ap-nghia-tinh-20251004102236627.htm