“The Ninh Binh Festival 2024, themed “The Flow of Heritage,” recreates the historical journey of the Vietnamese nation – the journey of establishing, relocating, and re-establishing the capital by the emperors,” General Director and scriptwriter of the opening ceremony, Le Hai Yen, shared with a reporter from the People's Army Newspaper.
Reporter: With its rich collection of relics, intangible cultural heritage, and UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage sites, how will the director highlight the event's theme?
General Director Le Hai YenThe 3rd Ninh Binh Festival in 2024, themed "The Flow of Heritage," is structured as a vibrant historical drama, presented in a theatrical format combining music, dance, and film with modern and unique performance technology on a stage utilizing 3D mapping technology to decipher legendary stories and uncover the hidden layers of the earth's rich heritage and brilliant values of ancient capitals.
The opening night (at 8 PM on November 24th at Dinh Tien Hoang Emperor Square, Ninh Binh City) is identified as the highlight of the Ninh Binh Festival. Therefore, the innovative way this year's Festival is organized also demonstrates the province's determination to promote the significant role of culture in the socio-economic development of the locality and contribute to the overall development of the country.
PV: So, what milestones in Ninh Binh's history and culture will be clearly showcased in "The Flow of Heritage"?
General Director Le Hai YenThe program will recreate historical milestones, significant events in Vietnam's thousand-year history of nation-building and defense; the most glorious and brilliant periods of the dynasties that contributed to building the oldest and most prosperous capitals in the nation's history, leaving behind invaluable tangible and intangible legacies for the nation and for humanity.
From this concept, the journey will connect heritage with three key points: the three ancient capitals of Hoa Lu, Thang Long, and Hue – all of which have UNESCO World Heritage sites, representing a flow of more than a millennium of Vietnamese history. In addition, we will also honor Ninh Binh's significant contributions to the nation's heritage through images and stories highlighting the three UNESCO-recognized sites, such as: the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex; the Vietnamese practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms; and the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve. This historical flow has shaped unique and precious cultural, historical, and architectural heritage sites that have endured through time.
PV: What visual elements are considered to be the distinguishing highlights that connect the story of "The Flow of Heritage" to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu?
General Director Le Hai YenOf course, events taking place in a cultural and historical setting will be imbued with the essence of the ancient capital. Along with that, we make maximum use of traditional folk art forms that are considered "specialties" of this region, such as Xam, Cheo, and Hat Van... We transform traditional melodies into something more accessible, creating experiences that are both familiar and novel for the audience.
Furthermore, traditional costumes are also an integral part of the storytelling on the opening stage. We present costumes from the Dinh, Pre-Le, Ly, Tran, and Nguyen dynasties, linked to the history of the capital cities from Hoa Lu, Thang Long, and Hue. These costumes have been meticulously researched, from research and design to production, demonstrating a proactive and receptive approach. We also hope that through the recreation and adaptation of these costumes, we can contribute to conveying a love for heritage to young people.
Costumes of emperors, researched and recreated by designers, will be displayed at the Festival. Photo: TIEU PHONG
PV: As a director with a track record of success in numerous events and festivals, what kind of pressure do you face with this Ninh Binh Festival, given the high expectations of local leaders, the people, and tourists?
General Director Le Hai YenWhat's special is that I enjoy difficulties and challenges, because they fuel my energy; pressure turns into motivation and creativity. Community programs need to be organized outdoors, and the most challenging aspect is always the weather.
With the long history of our nation, there are countless stories to tell, and with "The Flow of Heritage," we promise that audiences will love our storytelling style.
Events and activities within the framework of Ninh Binh Festival 2024. Photo: TIEU PHONG
The organizing committee and the creative team behind "The Flow of Heritage" will bring unforgettable emotions and impressions to the Ninh Binh Festival; contributing to promoting the image, culture, and people of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh, to domestic and international tourists. At the same time, it will realize the policy and orientation of Ninh Binh province to become a centrally-governed city by 2035, characterized as a millennium heritage city, a creative city; a major center with high value in tourism, cultural industries, and national, regional, and international event organization.
PV: Thank you, director!
According to the People's Army Newspaper
Your comment