ClockThursday, 21/11/2024 14:04

A “night cactus” of Ca Hue

TTH.VN - As a routine, every Tuesday night at Ca Hue (Hue-Singing) Club belonging to Thua Thien Hue Culture, Information and Sports Center at 25 Le Loi Street, Excellent Artist Quynh Hoa comes early to burn splinters of agawood in a small urn placed on the performing mat. That is the dear and familiar image of Quynh Hoa in the hearts of club members and intimate audiences.

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Excellent Artist Quynh Hoa (in ao dai) is playing the role of a fortune teller in the play "Tran Bo Marries a Concubine" 

Born on 12th November, 1955 in Kinh Thi Village, Trung Son Commune, Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province, Quynh Hoa (Truong Quynh Hoa as her full name) left her family to become a communist and joined Tri Thien Singing Drama Troupe, which later became Hue Singing Drama Theater.

Quynh Hoa with her graceful beauty and sweet skillful voice captivated many fans at that time through her performances on stage and on TV. Quynh Hoa is granted with a very bright smile and a sentimental singing voice.

With her passion for Ca Hue, she is always aware of its importance as a traditional art, and keeps improving herself. Her voice is getting sweeter and more skillful day by day. Her profound way of expression attracts many people. Not only a star in Ca Hue, Quynh Hoa also performs singing drama with many very successful roles such as Princess Qi in “Thoai Khanh Chau Tuan,” the fortune teller in “Tran Bo”, etc.

Quynh Hoa is one of the first eight artists and artisans to join Ca Hue Club founded by poet Vo Que on August 20, 1983. It has been more than 40 years since then, Quynh Hoa has always been attached herself to the club. She always works in earnest and performs wholeheartedly even for free. She is always at her best not only in singing but also in appearance, which shows her deep love for this traditional art. 

Working with Ca Hue Club from the early days, Quynh Hoa has always been loved by everyone in the club. With her responsibility, she is rarely absent. Now and then if she is busy, she still comes, sings a song then asks for permission to leave early. Note that sitting on the performing mat and singing a song takes just a few minutes, but before that it has taken singers over an hour to get dressed and make up. Only those who really love ca Hue can do so. 

No longer singing on boats on the Perfume River, she and Ca Hue Club perform at hospitals, schools, social centers, etc. She is always willing to perform as long as it is an opportunity for her to spread ca Hue to the public. 

“To me, singing is my huge happiness. I’ll continue to sing with my whole heart as long as audiences still want to listen. I would be very very sad if I can’t sing,” said Quynh Hoa in a short film  about her on television. 

Despite her age, she always shines on stage. Many audiences listen attentively to her, film her, take photos of her and want to take photos with her as souvenirs. That shows Quynh Hoa is really loved by her fans. Poet Vo Que, President of Ca Hue Club, confirms Quynh Hoa is one of the members who stays with the club the longest. 

In 1984, in a performance, Quynh Hoa, very young at that time, had the honor of meeting General Vo Nguyen Giap. She always remembers his words of encouragement, "You’re very young, but have a talent in Ca Hue. If you work hard, you’ll be successful.”

Without self-satisfaction, Quynh Hoa always explores good new things while performing. She can sing very old songs by request without forgetting the lyrics, which surprises many audiences. That is not easy to a singer who is no longer young like her. 

Excellent Artist Quynh Hoa is always trying to improve herself to match with the title granted to her by the government in 2022 and the love of the audience. Quynh Hoa will sing until the last moment of her life. She is like a “night cactus” whose aroma pervades everywhere.

Story and photo: Trang Thuy
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