Specifically, last week, Hien Nguyen simultaneously launched the research book History of Italian Opera Part I (published by Dan Tri Publishing House and Omega Plus) and performed the performance of La Passione at the Concert Hall of the National Academy of Music. Vietnam.

The soprano voice of Vietnamese music had a conversation with the Sports and Culture Newspaper (TTXVN).

Don't want to be just a teacher

* Singers usually just want to sing, but you write books. Meanwhile, o pera is a top art , not only difficult for artists to perform but also difficult to reach the public...

- I have been passionate about research and writing for the past 4 years. In particular, during the Covid-19 epidemic, I participated in a city-level scientific research project on building a simulation system to support vocal training based on virtual reality technology. Then, encouraged by teacher Gianni Kriscak, I decided to join him and lecturer Trinh Thi Oanh in researching the History of Italian opera .

I realize that this is a topic that few people mention, while materials for studying opera in the country are very lacking. The decision to write a book was both a challenge and a motivation for me to decide to become a graduate student at the Central University of Art Education.

Hien Nguyen Soprano at the book launch "History of Italian Opera"

* So what difficulties did you encounter when participating in this book?

- There are many difficulties, but I think if I find it difficult, I will never be able to do it. And I felt that if I couldn't overcome it, I would just be a normal teacher. I have passions and goals that I want to complete before the age of 40. Fortunately, because I previously studied in Italy, I have certain advantages when implementing this topic.

* She once said that the amount of knowledge she learned about opera in Vietnam was very little, so when she went to Italy , " I was like a blank sheet of paper." So, does the current state of art training in Vietnam need to change , or do future students/artists themselves need to find ways to cultivate it more?

- I say that because classical music in general or opera in particular was born hundreds of years ago and not in Vietnam. When I go later, I'm sure I'm lacking a lot. But indeed, it is also a motivation for each artist to find ways to improve themselves more...

Hien Nguyen Soprano in the performance "La passione"

*As introduced, the book was born with a close approach to the public. So , how is the balance between expertise, art and social factors - opera's living environment - distributed and expressed in the book?

- In each chapter, in addition to professional elements such as the origin, formation and development of opera... the authors and I always incorporate details and the most important moments such as festivals and scenes. reception or even opera activities of the nobility, common people... so that readers will not be bored and can easily imagine or relate after reading the book. The book consists of 15 chapters and at the end of each chapter there are suggestions for listening to the works. It is also a way for the public to have lively access to opera.

Some information about Hien Nguyen Soprano

Hien Nguyen Soprano (birth name Nguyen Thi Hien) was born in 1987, is a singer pursuing classical and semi-classical music. She graduated with honors in vocal music from the Vietnam National Academy of Music and was the only person to win two scholarships to study at the academy in Milan (Italy) in 2012. She is one of the rare singers who is proficient. both English, Italian and French.

Currently, in addition to being a solo singer, Hien Nguyen is teaching at Hanoi College of Arts and working as a graduate student at the Central University of Art Education.

Know clearly the path you are taking

* To put it briefly , what would opera be in your own definition ? And what do you think you have conquered in this art?

- To me, opera is not just about singing. I think every artist who sings opera deeply understands the origins and history of this genre will perform their work better. I feel lucky to be able to go to many operas and read many good books about history, but it's still not enough. Therefore, if I have the opportunity, I will still go to Italy to take additional classes to improve my expertise.

Overall, I'm pretty clear about the path I'm on. Next time, I will expand my operating environment in Ho Chi Minh City. In the short term, I want to be able to bring the book History of Italian Opera to a wide audience.

* Looking back on the past, what changes do you see that the public has made in their approach to academic art in general and opera in particular ? What impact do these changes have on artists like you?

- I see that in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi today, academic art has received a lot of attention. Specifically, there have been many elaborately staged operas and concerts taking place continuously. Thanks to that, opera artists have had the opportunity to work more professionally. That is a significant change compared to before.

As for myself, of course I always think that I need to try harder to keep up with the constant changes in academic music art in Vietnam.

* Thank you for the conversation!

Book "History of Italian Opera"

The research book History of Italian opera (part I) from the early period to the early 53rd century was edited by Italian professor Gianni Kriscak and co-authored by Nguyen Thi Hien and Trinh Thi Oanh. It is expected that part 2 of the book History of Italian Opera Part II from the 18th century to modern times will be released in 2025.

Professor Gianni Kriscak (Italy), is currently teaching theater music at the University of Music and Performance in Graz, Austria. He studied violin and piano at the G.Tartini Conservatory in Trieste, Italy. He then continued to study piano and orchestra conducting in Hamburg and Lübeck (Germany). In 1999, he became a professor and taught at the University and Opera Association in Japan.

Talking about the content of the research book, professor Gianni Kriscak shared that this is what the public has never known about opera until now, not only in Asia but around the world.

With his teaching experience in Asian countries, the Italian professor points out that: many Asian musicians think that perhaps opera means singing and only singing while historical context, social reasons and Even the weather and environment play a role in creating this art form in the place of its birth - Florence (Italy). So it can be said that understanding the history of opera is also understanding Italy.

"During our years of research, we have appreciated the dedication and enthusiasm of Vietnamese music theorists - critics and artists in studying opera. However, this requires support. with a vast amount of knowledge about opera history. We hope that with our book, the authors can bring musicians and the public who love academic music in general and opera in particular to connect with the spirit of opera. Italy" - shared professor Gianni Kriscak.