Đào Tấn Tuồng troupe stages final rehearsal of “aspirations of the homeland”

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The Đào Tấn Tuồng troupe, under the Gia Lai provincial Traditional Arts Theatre, held its final dress rehearsal of the tuồng opera Khát vọng non sông (Aspirations of the homeland) on November 4, attracting a large audience of tuồng enthusiasts and artists.

Directed by People’s Artist Nguyễn Hoài Huệ and written by playwright Văn Trọng Hùng, the production is adapted for hát bội by artist Đoàn Thanh Tâm. The creative team features Meritorious Artist Hoàng Thanh Bình as assistant director, Meritorious Artist Đào Trung Nghĩa for music composition and direction, artist Nguyễn Văn Sáu for stage design, and artist Đỗ Thị Kim Tiển for choreography. Performers from the Đào Tấn Tuồng Troupe are joined by supporting artists from the Bình Định Bài Chòi Opera Troupe.

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The opening scene features Tăng Bạt Hổ reading the Cần Vương Edict beneath the Kim Sơn forest canopy, calling on insurgents to rise up against the French. Photo: Ngọc Nhuận

The tuồng opera pays tribute to the life and legacy of patriotic scholar Tăng Bạt Hổ (real name: Tăng Doãn Văn, born 1858 in An Thường village, Hoài Ân district, formerly part of Bình Định province). A leading intellectual at the turn of the 20th century, he was among the earliest advocates for national independence and modernization.

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Artist Thái Phiên (far right) delivers a compelling portrayal of Tăng Bạt Hổ in Khát vọng non sông. Photo: Ngọc Nhuận

The play traces Tăng Bạt Hổ’s nearly 30-year journey to liberate his homeland, spanning Central and Northern Vietnam and extending abroad to Thailand, China, Russia and Japan. His story reflects a steadfast aspiration for national unity and self-determination.

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Insurgent forces, led by Tăng Bạt Hổ, advance to attack Hoài Nhơn prefecture. Photo: Ngọc Nhuận

The main cast includes artist Thái Phiên as Tăng Bạt Hổ, artist Thanh Vân as Xuân Mai, Meritorious Artist Ngọc Nhân as Lê Nam, artist Quốc Hòa as Emperor Meiji, and artist Thái Anh as Nguyễn Thân. Their performances bring depth to both heroic and antagonistic roles, enriching the opera’s dramatic power.

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The antagonists are convincingly portrayed by the cast, heightening the play’s dramatic tension. Photo: Ngọc Nhuận

With meticulously crafted music, choreography, and stage design, the production blends tradition and innovation, delivering a vivid and emotionally charged retelling of history through the art of traditional hát bội theater.

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Dance sequences incorporating martial arts add excitement and appeal for audiences. Photo: Ngọc Nhuận

According to Nguyễn Trọng Quỳnh, Director of the Gia Lai provincial Traditional Arts Theatre, Khát vọng non sông is not only an artistic achievement but also “a heartfelt tribute to the forebears who dedicated their lives to the cause of independence and freedom”.

The production is part of the theater’s annual cultural program, aimed at preserving and promoting the heritage of tuồng (hát bội) and enriching the repertoire for contemporary audiences.

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