Artist Bach Mai: Famous classical tuong composer, only one student in his life, Binh Tinh can't even make a wish

Bach Mai is one of the important names of the Southern classical tuong stage for more than half a century. She and the children Thanh Bach (ancient tuong), Kim Phuong, Bach Nga, and Thanh Chau - built Huynh Long to become a powerful state.

15 years old famous, 20 years old writing drama

The theater in Ho Chi Minh City has two great families that stick to the traditional singing profession, namely Minh To and Huynh Long. If the Minh To family has People's Artist Thanh Tong who is considered the "master of the people", the Huynh Long family has artist Bach Mai who is the "marshal" who dominates all four roles: group leader, composer, director and actor. pellets.

Her real name is Nguyen Ngoc Mai (born in 1948) is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ngoc Huynh, owner of the Thanh Binh - Kim Mai troupe, so from a young age, she was raised and encouraged by her parents to continue the family business. At that time, her family lived in Nhon Hoa communal house (Cau Muoi), the theater troupe raised the brothers and sisters in the house, incubating her sense of early continuation of her father's career.

At the age of 15, on summer days, she went to Cai Be (Tien Giang province) to tour. One night in the play "Manh Le Quan", the main actress, the artist Nam Thai, suddenly demanded a salary increase. Because her husband Nam Thai smoked opium, if not satisfied, she demanded to leave the group even though all tickets were sold out. Knowing that the teacher Nam Thai put pressure on the group, she begged Uncle Tu to convince her parents to let her take the role. At first, Uncle Tu was worried, but after listening to her audition for the role of "Manh Le Quan", he convinced him to give his daughter the role. The whole group that night was thrilled with each of her movements and songs, and then burst into happiness when Kim Mai (the stage name at the time of artist Bach Mai's career - PV) made the story.

She once confided that in her heart she always considered Ms. Nam Thai as her teacher, because "Nhat Tu vi monk, semi self vi teacher", she did not resent her for causing difficulties to her parents, on the contrary, she considered it an opportunity. opportunity for her to inherit her parents' career. That summer, she officially entered the profession after many times only playing the role of maidservant, dug three.

People's Artist Kim Cuong said: "The good news was from afar, at that time, when I was with Nam Phi's mother's group, I heard the praises for Kim Mai in Huynh Long and Thanh Tong "small age and high talent" in Minh To. the molding of life, of profession, both deserve to dominate the ancient tuong in Saigon".

And as fate arranged, at that time, People's Artist Phung Ha was invited by the manager Ngoc Huynh to Nhon Hoa communal house to teach the young dugong through the plays: "Blood dyed Phung Hoang Cung", "Phan Le Hue broke the flood battle", "Phung Nghi Dinh"... the teacher Kim Mai has learned more about choreography, knows how to think creatively about acting performances combined with martial arts from a senior who is considered the North Star of ancient tuong art. .

At the age of 20, in order to meet the needs of creating scripts for the troupe, and at the same time to supply young children Thanh Binh - Kim Mai, she officially wrote the script. Initially, it was a short period of reformation, then a scene, then based on the singing style of the senior artists that wrote the script. The first play she wrote and later, the role of a lifetime, was "Luu Kim Dinh devaluing Tho Chau".

Having the advantage of being the daughter of the opera troupe, she is like a fish in the water, constantly composing, directing and forming diverse acting styles. She has many pseudonyms such as: Bach Mai, Kim Mai, Ngoc Mai, Thanh Truc, Ngoc Chau, Vien Hoang... and hundreds of scripts of ancient cai luong tuong, including many famous plays such as "Trial of Phi Phi". Giao", "Beautiful Giang Son", "Ngoc Ky Lan", "Fourteen heroic women", "Five variables leopards with sheep", "The night sun of the century", "Truong queen", "White apricots" fate"...

Commenting on the style from singing to editing, running Doan Huynh Long since the boss Ngoc Huynh passed away, giving her the responsibility to steer the brand, People's Artist Kim Cuong said: "Bach Mai uses tactics to exploit actions. Because of her character, her play is always bustling and exciting, but when it comes to inner exploitation, it is full of emotions.Bach Mai also has the support of her husband, Duc Loi, and her cousin, Huu Hue. , so every play that is born has 80% success, especially the play "Trial of Phi Giao", bringing Ngoc Huyen into the limelight.There are 2/3 of the gold medal winners Tran Huu Trang are mentored by Bach Mai. ".

Regarding music, dance and costumes, artist Bach Mai discussed with her children: Thanh Bach, Kim Phuong, Bach Nga, Bach Lan, musician Thanh Chau... to help shape the style. "So just listening to music, looking at costumes and acting will recognize Bach Mai's style" - People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi said.

The life of an artist has ups and downs, just as fate brought her to glory with the role of Manh Le Quan, although in the play it is a happy ending, but thinking back to the fate of artist Bach Mai, "she Manh Le Quan" is only beautiful in the limelight, but in real life, she suffered a divorce, her son, artist Chinh Nhan, died in 2016, while she was away and could not return home to see her son's face one last time. By 2021, she passed away in solitude, in social distancing because of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Receive only 1 student

She devoted herself to teaching juniors and grandchildren, but the late artist Bach Mai said that she only accepted Meritorious Artist Ngoc Huyen as a student. As for the youngest daughter of Binh Tinh, the female artist entrusts to artist Bach Long.

In 2021, after hearing the news of his master's death, Ngoc Huyen posted a rather long article sharing about his memories with his respected teacher during his lifetime.

Ngoc Huyen revealed that Binh Tinh's biological mother knew her from a very young age. It was she who asked the People's Artist Nam Do to give birth to her to officially enter the Nghiep Ancestor. Although also a big star, the late artist still asked someone else to expect his disciples to be better than his master.

"The teacher's life is also very difficult, but every time he steps on the stage, he is no longer Bach Mai but just a character who lives his life on the stage. Knowing that no one can replace the teacher of the tuong class. makeover, even though she was pregnant, her belly was already big, a child like me at that time even recognized her belly carrying a baby, but for the sake of the audience, the artists, the workers in the troupe. She tied her belly tightly, kept her baby safe and still bravely stepped on stage for the sake of art, for everyone," she wrote.

"Although my idol is artist Thanh Nga, Ms. Le Thuy, the person who pushed me on stage, instilled fire in my profession, instilled enthusiasm and passion was my teacher, the talented artist Bach Mai.

I received news that he was admitted to the hospital but still believed that he would make it through. Because he was always respectful to the Three Jewels, to the Vocational Patriarch, sharing the love and hardship that she knew, even though that person had always hated her, used to harm her. Kim Tu Long and I witnessed it many times", the Meritorious Artist regretted.

Although artist Bach Mai is gone, Ngoc Huyen insists that she will always be in her heart. She once promised her teacher that she would always accompany Binh Tinh to take care of Binh Tinh's two children. She will keep this promise as long as she can take care of herself.

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