Light the fire of love with a stage career

The ceremony to celebrate the 95th birth anniversary and 20th death anniversary of playwright Phan Luong Hao - the first person in Ha Tinh to be honored with the State Prize for Literature and Arts in 2012, organized by his family, has spread many values to many artists and writers in the province.

Mr. Phan Luong Hao was born into a patriotic Confucian family in the countryside along the La River, in Hoa Dinh village, Bui Xa commune (now Bui La Nhan), Duc Tho district, a land that at the same time produced many artists and writers such as sculptor Diem Phung Thi, writer Nguyen Xuan Thieu, poets Luong Si Cam, Nguyen Quoc Anh...

State Council Chairman Truong Chinh presents flowers to author Phan Luong Hao and the main actor of the play Mai Thuc Loan. Photo courtesy

In 1948, he enlisted in the army and fought against the French as a Deputy Platoon Leader. After being discharged from the army, from 1957, he transferred to work at the Department of Arts of the Ministry of Culture. In 1962, he returned to his hometown and worked as an officer at the Ha Tinh Department of Culture. In 1969, he was one of the founding members and a member of the first Executive Committee of the Ha Tinh Literature and Arts Association. After the separation of the province, he retired and lived with his wife and children in Nam Hong ward, Hong Linh town. The late author Phan Luong Hao was a member of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association, continuously holding the position of Executive Committee member and Head of the Stage Department of the Ha Tinh Literature and Arts Association from the first to the fourth term.

Not counting operas and Tang poems, playwright Phan Luong Hao wrote over 30 plays, skits, and folk song suites, which were printed and staged at the central and local levels. His typical plays during the anti-American resistance war include: The Warehouse Girl (1966), The Village Ball (1967), The Nai Mountain Girl (1968), The New Battlefield (1970), Miss Tam (1973), By the Fortress (1975)... The war ended and peace was restored when he was at his peak of creativity and successively released plays: Gift Package (1979), Alarm Clock Bell (1984), Mai Thuc Loan (1985), Pine Forest Song (1986), Cinnamon Forest Stirring (1990)...

In particular, the opera “Mai Thuc Loan” won the Gold Medal at the National Professional Theatre Festival held in Vinh City in 1985, marking the milestone that Nghe Tinh folk opera officially became a genre in the flower garden of national opera. The opera “Xon xao rung que” won the A prize at the National Professional Theatre Festival in 1990 in Hai Phong .

In the last years of his life, he had to bravely fight against illness while diligently working on his art to continue to produce the opera Legend of Hong Mountain (1998); 2 long plays Finding the Mine's Navel (2001) and Moon Reflecting the Worries (2002). Due to old age and serious illness, he passed away on July 21, 2003 (June 22, Quy Mui year) amid the grief of his family, relatives, friends, colleagues and admirers.

Light the fire of love with a stage career

Excerpt from "Farewell Song" from the play "Mai Thuc Loan" by the late author Phan Luong Hao performed by Thanh Sen Folk Song and Dance Club.

Throughout his life and career in cultural and artistic activities, playwright Phan Luong Hao has won many noble awards such as: the award of the National Committee of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations; Third-class Victory Medal; First-class Anti-American National Salvation Medal; Commemorative Medal for the Cause of Vietnamese Literature and Arts; Commemorative Medal for the Cause of Vietnamese Culture; many certificates of merit from the Ministry of Culture and Information, Provincial People's Committee.

In particular, with his outstanding contributions to the field of theater, in 2012, playwright Phan Luong Hao was posthumously awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts by the President for his collection of "Selected Operas". In 2020, with the support of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee and the Ha Tinh Literature and Arts Association, the Stage Publishing House released the Phan Luong Hao collection.

“Though that body returns to dust/ The soul's fire still resonates in the memories of many people” (poem by PTH). It has been 20 years since playwright Phan Luong Hao left this temporary world to return to his ancestors, but certainly his life and career still live forever in the minds of many people, because he is worthy of being a true artist, daring to burn himself out for his creative passions, and is an exemplary model of attitude towards his homeland, clan, and family.

During the ceremony commemorating the 95th anniversary of the birth and 20th anniversary of the death of playwright Phan Luong Hao, many artists and artisans, including those who were colleagues at the same time as actors Xuan Ngo, Hong Loan, Hoai Thanh, Thanh Mai or the younger generation such as People's Artist Vu Thi Thanh Minh, musician Manh Chien, People's Artist Hong Luu and a large audience could not contain their emotions when enjoying the excerpt "Parting Song" in the poetic play "Mai Thuc Loan" performed by actors of the Thanh Sen Folk Song and Dance Club. The farewell of Mai Thuc Loan (played by artist Tran Van Sang) to his lover, Ms. Vai (played by folk artist Phan Thuy Diem), the scene where he was arrested by the royal soldiers, the villagers spread their arms to protect him, deeply moved.

The Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam melodies bring the audience back to the historical roots of their homeland, deep, poignant, and moving. Tears flowed from the eyes of many audiences, including many young people. People's Artist Vu Thi Thanh Minh (Cam My commune, Cam Xuyen) emotionally said: "My father used to be an actor of the Ha Tinh People's Art Troupe (now the Traditional Arts Theater). Today, I got to meet his contemporaries and watch an excerpt of the poetic play "Mai Thuc Loan" composed by playwright Phan Luong Hao based on Vi and Giam melodies. I am extremely moved to return to the stage atmosphere of my hometown."

Artist Le Thi Kim Phu (Thanh Sen Folk Song and Dance Club), who was cast as an extra, could not hide her pride: “This is the first time I have participated in acting, even though it was only a supporting role, I am extremely excited and love the excerpt from the play. I hope to continue performing to spread messages to the audience.”

Light the fire of love with a stage career

Writer Phan Trung Hieu, son of playwright Phan Luong Hao, spoke at the ceremony.

Along with the performance of excerpts from the poetic play, the audience also enjoyed other melodies of Vi and Giam folk songs, and listened to actress Hong Loan (81 years old) recall her memories of playing the role of Co Tam, the main character in the poetic play "Co Tam" performed by the Ha Tinh Opera Troupe in 1973. Many artists had the opportunity to reminisce about the years when artists were also soldiers, serving the cause of national liberation. Besides the memories of the heroic years, many people expressed their joy that Vi and Giam folk songs continue to spread and live forever in the hearts of the people.

Writer Phan Trung Hieu, son of playwright Phan Luong Hao, shared: “The 95th anniversary of my father's birth and 20th anniversary of his death is not only an occasion for the family to remember their father and grandfather, but also an opportunity for the province's artists to gather, meet, and learn more about his life of dedication, to light the flame of love for the province's theater career, to spread the great values of Nghe Tinh's folk song heritage, and to give strength to the province's artists in general and our descendants in particular on the road ahead.”

Minghui

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