Like a "tireless bird"

(Baonghean)Born in Ngoc Son commune, Quynh Thang district (Quynh Luu district), An Phuc joined his parents on the village stage at the age of six. From a young age, singing became an indispensable part of his life. Today, after 41 years of working in the professional arts, receiving numerous gold and silver medals, and having many successful roles, his reputation is known to readers and colleagues nationwide. But for him, that's still not enough. He continues to work tirelessly, yearning for new roles…

During a brief encounter with him, when I asked why he had such a burning passion for art, An Phuc smiled and simply replied, "Thank you to nature and my parents for giving me life, for instilling in me a passion for art from the womb, a passion that has stayed with me throughout my life..." His colleagues and friends often say, "An Phuc is one of the souls of the Nghe An Folk Song Theatre." Perhaps these sincere words further encourage and motivate him, helping him succeed in each role and earn the love of his audience.

An Phúc performs quite well in various genres. His advantage is his ability to sing many styles: Chèo, Cai Luong, Tuong, folk songs, Bong Mac... But with his portrayal of President Ho Chi Minh, he received many phone calls and letters from audiences in both the North and South praising him: "You played President Ho Chi Minh so well...", and the plays he participated in as President Ho Chi Minh left a special mark and affection in the hearts of the public, such as: "His Words, the Words of the Nation"; "President Ho Chi Minh - He is the Unwavering Faith in Victory"; "President Ho Chi Minh - His Words Brighten Our Hearts"; "Great Figures Grow Up from the Folk Songs of Vi Dam";...

Meritorious Artist An Phúc.

To date, he has participated in around 100 plays, both large and small. His roles have become synonymous with his name, earning him gold and silver medals, such as: Doctor Hai in "The Eyes"; Binh in "The Poem-Shaped Hat"; Lan in "Love Story in the Forbidden Forest"; King Khrushchev in "The Persian Queen"; Chu Binh in "The Storm"; Hai in "A Mother's Heartache"; Prince Kien in "The Young King's Love Story"; Director Dang Vinh in "Looking into the Past"; Doctor Nhan in "Round Footprints in the Storm"...

An Phúc remembers his first role at the age of 6 most vividly: Cu Ti in "Tan Huong Lien". At that time, he performed with his parents at the Quynh Luu district theater. The character "Ti" left a deep impression in the scene where Cu Ti's mother takes him to the capital to find his father. When she learns that his father has passed the imperial examination and become a top scholar, he disowns him and marries the King's daughter. Ti cries bitterly, and is even rejected and kicked out by his father. An Phúc's performance was so convincing that the audience couldn't hold back their tears.

Despite being in the profession for 41 years, each performance feels like the first time to him—a mix of nervousness, excitement, and an indescribable joy. Seeing the audience engrossed in his performance makes him forget his fatigue and gives him more energy to perform even better. Recently, during a tour of the Eastern and Southwestern provinces, performing for prisons, he saw many inmates cry and become deeply moved upon seeing the image of President Ho Chi Minh. When the image of President Ho Chi Minh raised his hand to wave, the audience also stood up and waved back with particularly warm emotions, which he found incredibly touching.

An Phúc, a distinguished artist, has the advantage of being born into a family with a strong artistic tradition. His parents are prominent figures in the district's arts scene, capable of performing many genres such as folk songs, traditional opera, and reformed opera. He also has an uncle, the musician An Thuyên, and this family tradition instilled in him a passion for acting, leading him to dedicate his entire life to the arts.

Each time he receives another award, he recalls a memory from when he was 17 years old, shared with his uncle. Composer An Thuyên, seeing his nephew's passion for acting, would take him on his Phoenix bicycle from Quỳnh Thắng to Bảo Nham (Yên Thành) at dawn – the location where the Nghệ An traditional opera troupe had evacuated – so that young Phúc could audition. They arrived just as dusk was falling. The "headquarters" at the time was a half-basement, half-house structure, which the troupe members often called a "half-underground, half-underground house." Since they couldn't light the lamps at night, An Phúc auditioned immediately. He performed the song "Looking at the Tree, I Remember the Gratitude to the People," which was highly praised by the troupe leader, Cao Danh Giá, who considered him very promising. The two of them rode back home that night. On the way, composer An Thuyên advised him: "When you hear the news of your acceptance, remember to constantly learn and diligently practice your singing and acting; only then will you be able to touch the hearts of the audience." At home, An Phúc's parents and uncles also gave him the same advice. Having been accepted, An Phuc was overjoyed to be sent to study Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) at the Vietnam National Theatre School a year later. During his four years as a student, he participated in performances with the school throughout the northern provinces, a period that provided him with valuable experience and insights for his artistic career.

His colleagues and friends rightly call him a "tireless bird." He's never seen leaving the stage. Whenever he has a few days off, out of respect for his colleagues, he travels to teach folk songs and traditional opera to schools and cultural centers in Ha Tinh and Thanh Hoa provinces. He confided, "I owe my success today to the support of my family, Uncle An Thuyen, and the sacrifices of my devoted wife."

An Phúc wished to have one last role before retiring, so that when he took off his last character's costume and stepped off the stage, it would be the day he retired. I said, "You still have five more years," and he laughed, "Artists who are passionate about their art often think like that." Then An Phúc gave another gentle smile, quickly said goodbye to me, and prepared for his next tour.

Text and photos: Thu Huong