'Blue Chrysanthemum': Emotional memories of poet Xuan Quynh

The program opened with the poetry chorus "I love you, Mom, like a cricket" and "Fairy tales about humans" performed by students of Giang Vo Secondary School, Dong Da District (Hanoi). They created a pure, childlike atmosphere, as well as recalling a witty, playful Xuan Quynh full of love for children.

Continuing into chapter II - "Waves" is surrounded by music and documentary footage. The participation of Vu and Mac Mai Suong when performing the song "Waves" in a new and creative way has affirmed the efforts of the program makers in bringing the poetic heritage of poet Xuan Quynh closer to the public of the 9X generation. The song is impressive because of the powerful delivery of two young voices who are loved by young people.

Along with that, the appearance of singer Hong Nhung also brought passionate emotions in "Hoa Quynh" and "Thuyen va bien". Singing "Hoa Quynh" for the first time - a composition by musician Nguyen Vinh Tien exclusively for the program, Hong Nhung handled it delicately, fully expressing the feelings of honor and respect that she has for poet Xuan Quynh.

Poster of the Blue Daisy Poetry, Music and Drama Night program.

The highlight that left many emotions in the audience was the documentary reportage by People's Artist Nguyen Thuoc. Right from the first introduction, the film took the audience into the love world of Xuan Quynh - Luu Quang Vu: "She was by his side not when he was shining, but when he was in trouble. She recognized the beauty of his soul, when he was most broken...".

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

Meanwhile, journalist Luu Quang Dinh - younger brother of screenwriter Luu Quang Vu shared: "Before talking about Ms. Xuan Quynh as a poet, we all considered her as our real sister. Ms. Quynh is a universe in which there are still many things that the public does not know about. Those are her concerns about war, about civic awareness, about the pain she feels for the mothers and children in the war...".

The documentary also revealed many never-before-told stories about the life and career of the talented couple Xuan Quynh - Luu Quang Vu. The atmosphere was quiet when the film showed the image of the late People's Artist Hoang Dung sharing about the poet couple. In it, he was in tears as he recounted: One time, he and artist Minh Trang went to Luu Quang Vu's house to celebrate Tet. When Xuan Quynh went to the kitchen, screenwriter Luu Quang Vu took out money to give each person lucky money, they hesitated because they thought he didn't want his wife to know about it. However, when they left, poet Xuan Quynh was the one who saw them to the gate. She slipped some lucky money into the hands of the two young actors, just like the way her husband had discreetly done before.

The video ends when the real voice of poet Xuan Quynh is heard, pushing emotions to a climax. Many viewers were surprised and moved when they heard the poetess read her poetry for the first time, with a voice that was both simple and familiar. The recording of poet Xuan Quynh's voice, kept by the Voice of Vietnam's Audio Archives Center, is a valuable document not only for her family but also for the public to forever hear her voice filled with love for life.

The program featured People's Artist Le Khanh and Meritorious Artist Minh Trang. The two artists performed poems and excerpts from letters by poet Xuan Quynh in chapter III - "Self-singing". They were all people who had been close to and shared many memories with the couple Luu Quang Vu - Xuan Quynh. Along with the length of time and the depth of experiences, they expressed the family affection, the worries and anxieties that the poetess recorded.

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

Musician Giang Son unexpectedly returned to the stage when performing the song she composed "Anh la tat ca doi em" (You are everything of my life), adapted from Xuan Quynh's poem. She put into it bright colors, but also full of sadness and emotion, just like her usual musical style. It can be said that Giang Son was successful in adapting Xuan Quynh's poem into a good song, with a natural rhythm, not forced or constrained.

Also in this part, the 6m house²was recreated and unfolded on stage. There was nothing there but books. The love of Xuan Quynh and Luu Quang Vu filled the space of the Opera House when People's Artist Lan Huong and Meritorious Artist Do Ky reread their letters.

Immediately following that, singer Hong Nhung and singer Vu sang a duet of the song "Love Stays" (composed by musician Quoc Trung) - as an affirmation that, even though they have passed away, the love they left behind is immortal.

The short play "Who Filled the Swamp Forever" opened chapter IV of the art night, inspired by the poem "Green Chrysanthemum" by poetess Xuan Quynh, as well as the play "Green Chrysanthemum on the Swamp" by screenwriter Luu Quang Vu. It can be said that the green chrysanthemum is not only the connecting thread for the sacred love of two great talents, but it is also a symbol of good things, humanistic values ​​that always need to be present in this life.

"Hoa cuc xanh" - the song composed by female singer Bui Lan Huong specifically for the program is also a highlight worth mentioning. This song was inspired by the poem of the same name, written by Xuan Quynh in April 1987 to send to her husband, playwright Luu Quang Vu, on his birthday, when he was on a business trip in Ho Chi Minh City. With a soaring melody, Bui Lan Huong brought her own romanticism, creating a beautiful and resonant ending for the program.

Van Khanh