Hanoi residents eagerly await the night of "The Affectionate Ví and Giặm Folk Songs".

(Baonghean.vn) - On the evening of November 12th, for the first time, a folk art form recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage was performed in a ticketed show at the National Convention Center in Hanoi: The "An Tinh Vi, Giam" music night.

However, from the beginning of the week, tickets for the concert were eagerly sought after by people from Nghe An living in the capital as well as those who love the songs of Nghe An.

During the Ví, Giặm Love Song Night, farmers from Nghe An province will sing simple, heartfelt songs about their daily lives, work, production, and love.

Audiences will have the opportunity to hear the best artisans from the Ví and Giặm clubs of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, such as Khanh Cam, Hong Van, Thanh Minh, Trong Tuan, Mai Anh, etc., sing traditional Ví and Giặm melodies like: "Giặm xay lúa" (rice milling song), "Giã bạn" (farewell song), "Ví phường cấy" (rice planting song), "Ví phường vải" (weaving song), "Ví leo non" (mountain climbing song), and "Hát đối đáp giao duyên" (calling and answering love songs). In addition, People's Artist Thu Hien, People's Artist Hong Luu, singers Bui Le Man, Phuong Thanh, Dang Thuat, etc., will perform songs with Ví and Giặm influences such as "Khúc hát sông quê" (Song of the Homeland River), "Giận mà thương" (Angry but Loving), "Đêm đò đưa nhớ Bác" (Night Ferry Remembering Uncle Ho), "Câu đợi câu chờ" (Waiting and Longing)...

The concert production team held a press conference (Photo: Thuy Thao)

What's even more remarkable is that the organizers of this massive event are mostly "outsiders"—not professional promoters. They are people from Nghe An province who are members of the Nghe An Hometown Association in Hanoi.

Starting from an idea by former students of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted in Nghe An nearly two years ago, on the occasion of Nghe Tinh folk songs being recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a series of art programs titled "Gratitude for the Folk Songs of Nghe Tinh" was organized in three cities: Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Notably, this is a completely non-profit program, implemented through community collaboration. Furthermore, the music night brings farmers to perform on a large stage, and the program also provides funding to develop and preserve this art form in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

Ms. Phan Ngoc Minh, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the "An Tinh Vi, Giam" program, said: "We not only hope to bring the Vi, Giam melodies closer to the people of Nghe An who are far from home, but also hope to widely promote this folk song to people all over the country."

The concert production team poses for a commemorative photo (Photo by Thúy Thảo)

Reportedly, around 80 singers, artists, and artisans participating in the "An Tinh Vi, Giam" program are currently rehearsing for the show. Meritorious Artist Nguyen An Ninh – the program's general director – stated: "This is a Vi, Giam performance, not an introduction to it. Therefore, the performances are carefully selected, professionally produced, and closely interconnected. The musical evening will touch the hearts of viewers with its simplicity and sincerity, not with anything noisy or grandiose."

Tickets for the "An Tinh Vi, Giam" performance are priced from 200,000 to 500,000 VND. This is considered the lowest ticket price ever for an art performance at the National Convention Center.

Comrade Nguyen Manh Cam, former Politburo member, former Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Nghe An Hometown Association in Hanoi, is the head of the organizing committee for the cultural exchange night. The People's Committees of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces also participated in coordinating the program. The money from sponsorships and ticket sales, after deducting organizational costs, will be used to support artisans and folk singing clubs in Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

Ho Viet Thinh