The event aims to celebrate the 100th birthday anniversary of Van Cao - a multi-talented artist and a giant of Vietnamese literature and art (November 15, 1923 - November 15, 2023).
Member of the Party Central Committee (PCC), Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the PCC Commission for Communication and Education, and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association Le Quoc Minh; Chairman of the Central Council for Literature and Arts Theory and Criticism Nguyen The Ky; Deputy Head of the PCC's Commission for Communication and Education Phan Xuan Thuy chaired the workshop.
Many writers, musicians, painters, artists, and researchers who have had time to work with Van Cao and representatives of the musician's family and friends came and gave their opinions.
Giving the introductory speech, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen The Ky, Chairman of the Central Council for Literature and Arts Theory and Criticism, affirmed: With his talents in the fields of music, painting and poetry, Van Cao is affirmed by many people as a very special and rare phenomenon in the history of modern Vietnamese literature.
Van Cao's 72-year life was completely intertwined with the turbulent twentieth century. On that journey of life, although there were many thorns, turbulence, and hardships, overcoming them all, a humble, simple lifestyle, patience, love, and respect for people, plants, and country helped him overcome pain, always accompanying the nation and people, creating immortal works.
With his great contributions to culture and arts in both music, poetry, and painting, he was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal by the State; Independence Medal, First Class and Third Class; Resistance War Order, First Class; Ho Chi Minh Award for literature and art (first round, 1996). His name is also given to many streets in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Hue, and Da Nang.
At the seminar, delegates discussed and evaluated Van Cao's qualities, bravery, talent, and artistic style, as well as the characteristics and value of his content, ideology, art, and creative style.
The delegates also analyzed and explained more in-depth about Van Cao's background, career, contributions, values, and the great artistic legacy left for the country; making recommendations to promote the value of the precious and great cultural and artistic heritage he left.
On this occasion, Nhan Dan Newspaper presented a bronze engraving of the sheet music of the song "Mua Xuan Dau Tien" (First Spring) to a representative of musician Van Cao's family.
