Follow Hong Kong immigration and Hong Kong life: The "Double-Cycle Appointment"—a tour commemorating the 120th anniversary of the birth of Mei Lanfang, co-organized by the Beijing Peking Opera Theater and the Beijing Cultural and Creative International Group—will be grandly staged in Hong Kong at the end of this year. To this end, Mei Baojiu, son of Mei Lanfang and head of the Mei school of art, held a press conference in Hong Kong yesterday to share his father's artistic life with reporters and invited outstanding disciples to perform representative works of the Mei school on site.
Mei Baojiu lived in Hong Kong with his father during his childhood. Returning to Hong Kong after several decades, Mei Baojiu remarked that it felt like "returning to his mother's home." He stated that the "Double-Cycle Appointment" performance in Hong Kong is of special significance. "Hong Kong is a treasure trove for cultural exchange. I hope to further promote Peking Opera art to Hong Kong audiences and let everyone understand traditional Chinese culture." At this press conference, Mei Baojiu's disciples and third-generation successors of the Mei school, Hu Wenge and Zhang Xinyue, performed classic Mei school arias, fully demonstrating the essence of Mei school performance.
Speaking of Mei Lanfang, Mei Baojiu told our reporter that his father always led by example, whether in educating his children or in his conduct. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Mei Lanfang refused to perform for the invading Japanese army and "grew a beard" in protest. Recalling his father's righteous act, Mei Baojiu remains deeply impressed to this day. "I heard the Japanese say that my father was the best among the Chinese. Why? Because they understood my father's state of mind at that time too well. The Japanese admired the Bushido spirit; the more submissive you are, the more they look down on you."
At yesterday's press conference, the presence of well-known Hong Kong pop singer Hins Cheung was particularly eye-catching. Mei Baojiu was not surprised by this, "Hins Cheung's grandfather's sister-in-law was Guan Sushuang (the late Peking Opera performing artist), and Guan Sushuang was also my father's student." Mei Baojiu said that Hins Cheung has listened to Peking Opera since he was a child because he grew up in that atmosphere. "I told him that if there is an opportunity, he should sing some Peking Opera. Some elements of Peking Opera can be integrated into pop songs, which young people would also like and enjoy listening to. Seeing that a young person (Hins Cheung) has this interest and came to participate in this event shows that he has his own ideas and is willing to promote the Mei school of Peking Opera art."
It is understood that the Hong Kong leg of the "Double-Cycle Appointment" will be held from December 27 to 29 at the Sunbeam Theatre in Hong Kong. At that time, Mei Baojiu will lead nearly a hundred Mei school disciples to present a unique audiovisual feast for the Hong Kong audience, recreating the charm of Mei school art performances.
