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"Notre Dame de Paris" to rejuvenate in southern spring

"Notre Dame de Paris" (Thang gu nha tho Duc Ba) opera, which has taken its composer Huy Tien almost 30 years to perfect, will hit Ho Chi Minh City stage next month, according the Saigon Times Daily.
"Notre Dame de Paris" (Thang gu nha tho Duc Ba) opera, which has takenits composer Huy Tien almost 30 years to perfect, will hit Ho Chi MinhCity stage next month, according the Saigon Times Daily.

Adapted from the masterpiece of French writer Victor Hugo, the90-minute opera will be unveiled to audiences on January 13-14 at theHo Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, the Daily said.

Ho Chi Minh City-based musician Tien started to write the opera in the1980s and has adjusted it several times but now he is happy with thefinished article.

Spectators will witness a stiflingsetting in the context of 18th century France when people sufferedunder the control of a theocratic state.

The operafocuses on beautiful gipsy Esmeralda who is loved by the hunchbackQuasimodo, priest Frollo and captain Phoebus. Esmeralda is accusedunjustly to be hanged by those who cannot win her love and even from herown mother. Only Quasimodo is in Esmeralda’s corner despite herrejections.

The opera production team consists ofpopular stage director Phan Dien, flautist Nguyen Thi Nhung, cellist VuHong Anh, violinists Vu Kim Chau and Dieu Ly, guitarist Chau Dang Khoa,drummer Ha Ngoc Cam and pianist Vu Huy Tien.

Leading actors are People’s Artist Tran Hieu (the narrator), MeritoriousArtist Duy Tan (Quasimodo), Meritorious Artist Cao Minh (Frollo), andsingers Phuong Trinh (Esmeralda), Nam Khanh (Phoebus) and Phan Hoang(Clopin).

Additionally, the opera has support fromthe HCMC Conservatory of Music’s artists in the roles of choir singersand the populace.

The opera is supported by theVietnam Musicians’ Association, the HCMC Conservatory of Music, Vufamy,Tai Duc Communications Co and Travellive magazine.-VNA
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