Đỗ Nhuận


Đỗ Nhuận was a Vietnamese classical composer. He is known for the first homegrown Vietnamese opera - Cô Sao "Miss Sao." This and other more-or-less revolutionary themed musicals were premiered by the at the Grand Opera House. In 1996, he was posthumously awarded the Hồ Chí Minh Prize for music.
Don't confuse with an earlier Đỗ Nhuận, a high ranking politician, a notable poet, member of - a famous association of 28 poets under the command of King Lê Thánh Tông.

Early years

Unlike most of the musicians at that time who followed the romantic orientation, Đỗ Nhuận entered the music industry with patriotic songs. In 1939, at the age of 17, he had his first work Trưng Vương. During 1940 - 1941, he focused on completing the opera Nguyễn Trãi - Phi Khanh and many other compositions. His works performed have awakened the patriotism of Vietnamese people. Because of those songs and other activities assigned by the Việt Minh front, such as printing and distributing propaganda leaflets for the revolution, mobilizing students and young people to respond to movements, he became a key cadre of the Việt Minh among Hải Phòng youth and students.

In the second Indochina War

Đỗ Nhuận is also the only musician in the first generation of Vietnamese neo-musicians who is well-trained. He studied at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory from 1960 to 1963.
During the late 1960s he was highly critical of the "pop" music of songwriters in the South such as Phạm Duy. Đỗ Nhuận was the General Secretary of the Vietnam Musicians' Association in two continuous terms.

Works

Operas
  • Cô Sao Hanoi 1965, restaged as A Sao 1976.
  • Người tạc tượng Hanoi 1971
  • Nguyễn Trãi Hanoi 1980.
Songs

Memory

A street along the northeastern side of the - a famous symbol of the City for peace Hà Nội - was named after Đỗ Nhuận since 2011.