Festival honours artistic value of ‘Cheo’ artform

The 2019 National Cheo (popular opera) Festival opened in the northern province of Bac Giang on September 14, bringing together nearly 1,000 artists from 16 art troupes and clubs across the country.

A performance at the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA)
A performance at the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST), Ta Quang Dong stressed that despite historical ups and downs throughout the previous centuries, the art of ‘Cheo’ has played a certain role in the spiritual and cultural life of people living in the Red River Delta region.

He went on to affirm that the festival is held to honour the artistic values of ‘Cheo’ artform while providing an opportunity for ‘cheo’ artists to meet and show their talents while sharing experience with their colleagues.

For his part, Vice Chairman of Bac Giang provincial People’s Committee, Le Anh Duong said that it is an honour for the province to host the event, which allows local Cheo artists to learn from the experience of their colleagues nationwide and contributes to promoting the practice of the artform in the locality.

Taking place until September 29, the festival brings to the stage 26 Cheo plays featuring a wide range of topics on the life, culture and people of Vietnam.

Under the festival, five ‘Cheo’ programmes will be staged for free to entertain people in Hiep Hoa, Yen Dung, Lang Giang, Viet Yen and Tan Yen districts in the province on September 17, 19, 20, 22, and 24.

The festival is held every three years by the MOCST’s Performing Arts Department in coordination with the Vietnam Theatre Artists Association.