Ca tru shows by Kim Duc Ca Quan

VietNamNet Bridge – The experimental music centre Phu Sa Lab will host a ca tru (ceremonial singing) concert of Kim Duc Ca Quan (Kim Duc Singing Troupe) on Saturday.

Kim Duc Ca Quan, which consists of artisan Pho Thi Kim Duc and other Hanoian ca tru singers and instrumentalists, will stage concerts at Phu Sa Lab. — Photo hanoigrapevine.com

Kim Duc Ca Quan was founded by 88-year-old artisan Pho Thi Kim Duc. Duc was raised in a family of famous artists of the genre, which is an intangible culture heritage recognised by UNESCO.

In the early years of the 20th century, her grandparents opened a ca tru theatre and set up a ca tru school.

Duc was taught and trained to sing ca tru by her grandmother when she was seven years old. When she was 12 years old, she became a professional ca tru singer, performing together with her father and brother in famous theatres in Kham Thien Street until peace returned to Vietnam in 1954.

In 1960 she started teaching traditional singing at the Ha Noi University of Theatre and Cinema. She then worked for the Traditional Music Department of The Voice of Vietnam until her retirement.

In the last years of the 20th century, the artist joined an art ensemble of French choreographer Thuy Ea Sola to tour 11 countries and performed her vocals and castanet playing.

Tickets for the concert cost VND500,000 (including dinner and a drink). The concert will start at 7pm. Phu Sa Lab is at 21/52 To Ngoc Van Street, Tay Ho District. Bookings should be made 24 hours in advance.

Kim Duc Ca Quan will also have two other concerts at Phu Sa Lab next month, on July 7 and 21.

Source: VNS