Peking Opera master Mei Baojiu dies in Beijing

Mei Baojiu performs at the opening ceremony of the 5th Beijing International Film Festival, April 16, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

Mei Baojiu, a Peking Opera master, died at the age of 82 this morning in Beijing, according to Beijing News.

Mei, the son of famous Peking Opera artist Mei Lanfang, passed away due to sudden respiratory arrest, said an employee of Beijing Peking Opera Theater.

Mei Baojiu was born in Shanghai in 1934 and is the ninth child of Mei Lanfang. He is also the head of Mei Lanfang Peking Opera troupe in Beijing Peking Opera Theater and has been behind such masterpieces as Farewell to My Concubine, Drunkened Concubine, and Lady General Mu Takes Command.

As an inheritor of Mei school, he began to learn Peking Opera at 10 years old, staging his first performance at 13 , and performed with the founder of Mei School Mei Lanfang at 18 years old.

Mei, who had just celebrated his 82nd birthday, was invited to give lectures on Peking Opera in universities.