 |
|
Prof. Hoang Chuong. Photo ktdt.com.vn |
Born in the “cradle” of Tuong (classical drama) art, Binh Dinh Province, the professor Hoang Chuong has become attached to Tuong since his childhood. It is him who suggested the Dao Tan award, aiming to honor national cultural celebrities and those who greatly contribute to the traditional culture. At present, he still devotes himself full-time to Tuong as he chose it as his lifetime career.
You devoted your time to study the traditional stage, including Tuong art when working as the Director of Vietnam Institute of Theatre during 15 years. How do you feel when Tuong has mostly sunk into oblivion?
Tuong is a type of the traditional arts which have gradually lost their position. Only Tuong adorers could know the value of Tuong in Vietnam’s culture and feel hurt when it has almost fallen into oblivion. As for me, this is a very sad matter as I’ve devoted my life to Tuong.
After retiring, you set up the Centre for Research, Preservation and Development of National Culture, attracting many leading experts, such as prof. Vu Khieu, prof. Tran Van Khe and the others. Could you reveal the causes making you work very hard?
I’m nearly 80 now but I never allow myself to rest as I think I must have responsibility for the national culture. I was born in the cradle of Tuong and nurtured by the quintessence of the national culture; thus, I must have responsibility to preserve it. The experts who join the center also have the same goal of preserving and upholding the traditional cultural value.
What makes you worry most in the field of Tuong art?
The Tuong art is now in crisis as the foreign culture is spreading its power in the integration cause. Contemporary people are quickly absorbed in the increasing avalanche of foreign culture and gradually ignore the traditional culture.
However, when teaching foreign students, I found they are interested in Vietnam’s traditional culture as they realized this is one of Oriental arts while Vietnamese young people don’t want to learn about it as they think it is old-fashioned. It is young people who will preserve the traditional culture in the future but they are now turning their back on the cultural values. That is my biggest worry.
What must be done to restore and uphold the Tuong art?
Many workshops were held to work out measures to preserve and uphold the Tuong art, but this is still problematic. Tuong is a type of traditional arts that is very selective about audience. It is not easy to understand the Tuong art; hence, if you want to make people love Tuong, you must help them understand it first. Once understanding the Tuong art, people will accept it easily.
Do you think that it requires specific actions to help people get absorbed in Tuong?
Tuong has its own language. Our ancestor’s culture is showed through the Tuong art. Only when we dedicate ourselves to Tuong could we thoroughly understand this kind of art. The most feasible measure is to combine Tuong art with the school’s syllabuses.
The Vietnam National Tuong Theatre reaped particular achievements when its artists performed at the Vietnam University of Culture. At some schools, students learned how to perform a Tuong play, but this will be useless if such activities aren’t carried out frequently.
Some said it’s necessary to reform Tuong, helping people easily understand and enjoy it. What do you think about the issue?
Tuong must be reformed but it mustn’t be mixed with any types of arts. If not, the change will make Tuong lose its unique features, causing misunderstanding about Tuong.
| 
