Beijing officially bids farewell to Peking-Opera legend Mei Baojiu, son of the renowned Mei Lanfang, on Tuesday. Though his voice is silent now on earth, his legacy lives on in the hearts of opera acolytes.
Mei's wife, Lin Liyuan, was there, along with other family members, fans, and disciples of the beloved maestro, as the nation mourned the loss of a great artist.
"Mr. Mei had kept in good health. His heart and blood pressure were steady. However, he had asthma from overworking at a young age. This time, he didn't recover from it and passed away following a bronchial spasm. My teacher always had a humble approach, and he seldom said no to others' requests," said Zhang Jing, Mei Baojiu's apprentice, Peking Opera performer.
Barely a month ago, Mei Baojiu was celebrating his 82nd birthday with students at the Beijing International Studies School. He was in high spirits, but the very next day, he slipped into a coma and never woke up.
Born March 29, 1934, in Shanghai, Mei Baojiu was the ninth child and successor of Mei Lanfang, one of the most respected Chinese artists of the 20th century and creator of the "Mei School" of Peking Opera.
