Vietnamese Opera Meets Electronic Music and Rap to Engage Youth

Vietnamese artist Que Tran is experimenting with innovative ways to introduce the traditional art form of cải lương, or Vietnamese opera, to a younger generation. She has collaborated with young singers and rappers to create new cải lương productions infused with modern sounds like electronic music and rap.

Tran believes that the future of cải lương depends on its ability to connect with young people. She has partnered with musicians and producers such as Tieu Minh Phung, known for his rap-infused cải lương, and music producer Tong Dai. This has led to collaborations with popular artists like Vo Ha Tram, TIA Hai Chau, Quan Pino, Rapper Bin Yet, and actor Nam Cha.

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I tell them my ideas and let the young people try making cải lương in their own way. Because they understand today's youth trends and know what young people want and like. This means I let them create freely, but each piece must have the essence of cải lương.

"I tell them my ideas and let the young people try making cải lương in their own way," Tran explained. "Because they understand today's youth trends and know what young people want and like. This means I let them create freely, but each piece must have the essence of cải lương." She aims for each episode to be around 15 minutes long, with 3-4 minutes dedicated to music and the rest to talk shows. Professional cải lương artists will also conduct small workshops for the young musicians and singers.

Tran's project, titled "Nghe Thuật và Chạm" (Art and Touch), is designed to "touch memories, touch identity, and touch the future." She hopes that through these modern interpretations, young audiences will find cải lương more accessible and develop a greater appreciation for it. The series has already produced six episodes, with new installments airing weekly.

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Art and Touch is about 'Touching memories, touching identity, and touching the future.'