'Blue Chrysanthemum': Touching memories of poet Xuan Quynh

The program opened with choral performances of the poems "I Love My Mother Like a Cricket" and "A Fairy Tale About Humankind," performed by students from Giang Vo Secondary School, Dong Da District (Hanoi). The students created a pure, childlike atmosphere, evoking the playful, witty, and loving spirit of Xuan Quynh, full of affection for children.

Continuing into Chapter II - "Waves," which is dominated by music and documentary footage, the participation of Vu and Mac Mai Suong in performing the song "Waves" in a fresh and creative way affirms the efforts of the program's creators in bringing the poetic legacy of poet Xuan Quynh closer to the 9X generation. The song is impressive due to the powerful delivery of the two young voices that are popular with the youth.

Alongside this, the appearance of singer Hong Nhung also brought heartfelt emotions with her renditions of "Hoa Quynh" and "Thuyen va Bien". Singing "Hoa Quynh" for the first time – a composition by musician Nguyen Vinh Tien written specifically for the program – Hong Nhung handled it subtly, fully expressing the feelings of honor and respect she held for the poet Xuan Quynh.

Poster for the "Blue Chrysanthemum" poetry, music, and drama night program.

The highlight that left a lasting impression on the audience was the documentary produced by People's Artist Nguyen Thuoc. From the very first lines, the film drew viewers into the world of love between Xuan Quynh and Luu Quang Vu: "She was by his side not when he was shining brightly, but when he was struggling. She recognized the beauty of his soul when he was experiencing the most heartbreak..."

Xuan Quynh was a woman who knew only love, and loved deeply, one person. Because of this, she also loved his family and friends, living with them wholeheartedly. People's Artist Doan Chau affirmed: "It's rare to see a family in such a complicated situation that loves each other so much."

Meanwhile, journalist Luu Quang Dinh, the younger brother of playwright Luu Quang Vu, shared: "Before speaking of Xuan Quynh as a poet, we all considered her like a sister. Quynh was a universe in which there are still many things the public doesn't know. These include her anxieties about war, civic consciousness, and the sorrow she felt for the mothers and children in the war..."

The documentary also revealed many never-before-told stories about the lives and careers of the renowned couple Xuan Quynh and Luu Quang Vu. The atmosphere became poignant when the film showed the late People's Artist Hoang Dung sharing about the poetess and her husband. In it, he tearfully recounted: On one occasion, he and actress Minh Trang visited Luu Quang Vu's house for Tet (Lunar New Year). When Xuan Quynh went to the kitchen, playwright Luu Quang Vu gave each of them money as a New Year's gift. They hesitated, thinking he didn't want his wife to know. However, when they left, the poet Xuan Quynh was the one who saw them off at the gate. She slipped some money into the hands of the two young actors as a New Year's gift, just as her husband had discreetly done before.

The video ends with the authentic voice of poet Xuan Quynh, bringing the emotions to a climax. Many viewers were surprised and moved to tears upon hearing the poetess recite her poems for the first time, her voice both simple and intimate. The audio recording of Xuan Quynh's voice, preserved by the Audio Archive Center of the Voice of Vietnam, is a precious document not only for her family but also for the public, who will forever hear the poetess's voice, full of love for life.

The program featured People's Artist Lê Khanh and Meritorious Artist Minh Trang. The two artists performed poems and excerpts from letters by poet Xuân Quỳnh in Chapter III – “Singing to Myself”. They were both close to and shared many memories with Lưu Quang Vũ and Xuân Quỳnh. Through the passage of time and the depth of their experiences, they conveyed the family feelings, anxieties, and longings that the poetess recorded.

The song "Love Letter at the End of Autumn" (music by Phan Huynh Dieu, lyrics by Xuan Quynh), performed by young singer Mac Mai Suong, was very emotional. She brought a fresh, pure, and modern touch to the art performance.

Composer Giáng Son made a surprise comeback to the stage, performing her own composition, "You Are Everything in My Life," set to a poem by Xuân Quỳnh. She infused the song with bright yet poignant and emotional tones, true to her usual musical style. It can be said that Giáng Son succeeded in setting Xuân Quỳnh's poem to music, creating a beautiful song with a natural rhythm that felt neither forced nor contrived.

Also in this section, the 6m house²It was recreated and unfolded on stage. There, there was nothing but books. The love of Xuan Quynh and Luu Quang Vu enveloped the space of the Grand Theatre as People's Artist Lan Huong and Meritorious Artist Do Ky reread their letters.

Following that, singers Hong Nhung and Vu performed a duet of the song "Love Remains" (composed by musician Quoc Trung) - as an affirmation that, even though they have passed away, the love they left behind for humanity is immortal.

The short play "Who Filled the Swamp Forever?" opened Chapter IV of the art performance, drawing inspiration from the poem "Blue Chrysanthemum" by poet Xuan Quynh, as well as the play "Blue Chrysanthemums on the Swamp" by playwright Luu Quang Vu. It can be said that the blue chrysanthemum is not only a connecting thread for the sacred love between two great talents, but also a symbol of goodness and human values ​​that should always be present in life.

"Blue Chrysanthemum" – a song composed specifically for the program by singer Bui Lan Huong – is also a highlight worth mentioning. This song is inspired by the poem of the same name, written by Xuan Quynh in April 1987 as a gift to her husband, playwright Luu Quang Vu, on his birthday while he was on a business trip in Ho Chi Minh City. With its soaring melody, Bui Lan Huong infused it with her unique, free-spirited style, creating a beautiful and memorable ending to the program.