The Royal Hue Traditional Arts Theatre has completed an anthology of traditional arts and artists including nha nhac, or court music, tuong, classical opera, and royal dances.

Theatre director Truong Tuan Hai said 20 practitioners of the traditional arts lived either in Hue or its surrounds.

The anthology had been compiled from staff research and field trips to meet artists who performed for members of the Nguyen dynasty, he said.

The work had continued for more than a year and the invaluable material collected had been compiled into a 250-page profile of the artists and a glossary of the works they perform.

It included 22 90-minute tapes and 45 20-minute DVDs recording their performances.

The artists included Tran Kich, who served the court in early 20th century, and helped record 30 pieces of royal music.

Although its roots can be traced to the Ho Dynasty (1400-1407), nha nhac reached its zenith at Hue's royal court during the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945.

(Source: VNS)