Opera fans and people from all walks of life bid farewell to Mei Baojiu.
Tan Yuanshou
Shang Changrong
Pu Cunxin
Li Yang, our reporter
No mournful music, Babaoshan Funeral Hall auditorium looped "Ode to the Pear Blossom" hundreds of white roses composed of flower beds solemn fragrance, the famous Peking Opera performer, Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang son, Peking Opera Mei School of Art master Mei Baojiu, quietly lying there. The first time I saw him, he was in a state of shock and in a state of shock. Yesterday, Mei Baojiu's family and friends, disciples, students and thousands of fans from all over the country, rushed to send "Master Nine" last journey.
The hearse circled the Chang'an Theater
Beijing's sky was clear yesterday morning. While many people were still basking in the beauty of the morning light, a master artist was embarking on his final journey on earth.
At 6:30 a.m., Mei Baojiu's hearse slowly took off from the Union Hospital. Since March 30, when he was admitted to the Union Hospital after suffering an asthma attack and falling into a coma, until he died at 11 p.m. on April 25, Mei Baojiu has been staying in the ICU ward of the Union Hospital. Yesterday's farewell ceremony also departed from here. As Mei Baojiu and his father Mei Lanfang have performed many times in the Chang'an Grand Theater, the hearse specially from Dongdan North Street to the east, around the front of the Chang'an Grand Theater. The staff waiting there, holding white chrysanthemums, watched Mr. Chang's hearse pass.
At 7:37 p.m., the hearse pulled into the Babaoshan Funeral Hall. Mei Baojiu's disciples, students and some theater fans who could not hide their grief were already waiting. When the six protocol staff shoulders carry the coffin, to the funeral hall hall, Mei Baojiu's disciples and students on both sides, all kneeling to Mr. farewell. Many of them could not hold back their tears, but tried to suppress their emotions for fear that their cries would disturb the master.
In the funeral parlor auditorium, white roses surrounded Mei Baojiu's spirit bed. The company's first-ever "Nike Air Max 90" is the first of its kind in the world, and it's the only one in the world that's going to be able to do it.
During Mei Baojiu's coma, his heartbeat changed slightly as he sang the classic "Ode to the Pear Blossom," which echoed in his ears over and over again. However, the world even "Ode to a Pear Blossom", no longer on earth Mei Baojiu.
"Jiu brother style forever"
10 o'clock, the farewell ceremony officially began, many Peking Opera celebrities came to send Mei Baojiu last journey.
Famous Peking Opera artist and Tan Men representative Tan Yuanshou led Tan Xiaozeng and Tan Zhengyan to bid farewell. One of the "four great dancers" Shang Xiaoyun's descendant, the famous Peking Opera performing artist Shang Changrong, also made a special trip from Shanghai. Shang family and Mei family three generations, and has a marriage relationship, Shang Changrong usually call Mei Baojiu "Mei big uncle". In the face of the parting of life and death, Shang Changrong recited: "Mei Yun Xiang enjoys a good reputation in the world, Jiu brother style will always remain in the world."
Ye Shaolan, the son of Master Ye Shenglan and the head of the current Ye School, could not hide his grief, saying that he had just spent a few days with Mr. Mei in March this year. Because the two were members of the seventh to twelfth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Not only group discussion in a group, even the resident room also happens to be next to each other. Every time on the way to the meeting, either Mr. Ye reminded Mr. Mei "windy, do not forget to wear a hat", or Mr. Mei reminded Mr. Ye "coughing, hurry to the hospital to see, do not be careless". In Ye Shaolan's impression, as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) for nearly 25 years, Mei Baojiu has never been absent from the National People's Congress and the CPPCC every time in the National Committee of the CPPCC will be for the development of the art of Beijing Opera inheritance drums and calls. Just this year at the CPPCC meeting, Mei Baojiu also expressed in the proposal, hoping that children listen to Peking Opera, love Peking Opera, practicing calligraphy, and recognize traditional Chinese characters. "I am very saddened, his death is an irreparable and significant loss to the opera world." Ye Shaolan said.
Gao Weiqiang, grandson of Gao Qingkui, one of the "Four Great Suzhengs," came to say goodbye on behalf of his 88-year-old father, Gao Yunsheng. "My father called many times in a row and asked me to make sure I gave Mr. Mei a ride for him." Gao Weiqiang said his grandfather had worked with Mr. Mei Lanfang for a long time. Although he later left the stage, his grandfather made a special visit to Mr. Mei Lanfang in the 1930s when he went to Shanghai for medical treatment. Gao Yunsheng, who was only 10 years old at the time, also met Mei Baojiu, who was only 4 years old, for the first time at Mei's house. After decades of friendship, Gao Yunsheng has always felt that Mei Baojiu carries on the spiritual temperament of the Mei family and unites the "soul" of the Mei family, which makes him feel close to and admire him.
Qiu Jirong, grandson of famous Peking Opera artist Qiu Shengrong, also came to see off his old friend. In recent years, Qiu Jirong has attracted much attention and debate for combining Peking Opera with modern dance on stage. Last year, he and Mei Baojiu*** made a point of showing Mei Baojiu his own performances when they took part in CCTV's reality show Ding, Dong, Dong, Choke. "Mr. Mei is actually very OPEN and encouraging of my efforts in this area." It was in this program that Mei Baojiu left his last colorful singing before his death - a song called "The Drunkenness of Your Concubine".
"Mr. Mei, don't go ......"
Yesterday, came to send off Mei Baojiu's fans and the general public are also a lot of people in the crowd from time to time people shouted: "Mr. Mei, I come to send you! " People came from all over the country just to say "goodbye".
Wei Haimin, star of the Light Peking Opera Troupe, arrived in Beijing from Taipei the night before. He studied under Mei Baojiu in 1991 and was Mr. Mei's first student in Taiwan. "At that time, when I studied opera with Mr. Mei, I always ate at Mei's house." After he finished his studies and returned to Taiwan, he cherished every one of Mei Baojiu's performances in Taiwan, as they were the only opportunities he had to perform on the same stage as his master. Today, recalling these moments, he only feels that happiness is so short-lived.
Yang Lirong, an opera fan who came from Chengdu, Sichuan province, made a piece of easy-to-use paper and printed on it the photos of Mei Baojiu of all ages that he had collected on the Internet. He was embarrassed to say:
"I may not be considered a fan, but I just like listening to Mei Pai, so I rushed here to see him off."Yu Shaoqun, an actor who once played the role of teenager Mei Lanfang in the movie "Mei Lanfang," and who received a lot of guidance and help from Mei Baojiu in playing the role, said, "Mr. Mei's departure is a great loss to Chinese opera and the Chinese cultural and artistic circles."
At about 11:40 a.m., Mei Baojiu's coffin left the funeral hall auditorium. When the hearse slowly started, many family members, friends and opera fans who were still waiting, chased after the car and cried out loudly: "Mr. Mei, don't go ......"