Mei Baojiu, one of the foremost performers of China’s famous Peking opera, died on Monday aged 82, according to Chinese state media.
Mei died around 11 a.m. local time at a hospital in Beijing after going into a coma following a bronchial spasm, state-run news agency Xinhua quoted his theater company as saying. He had reportedly been hospitalized for nearly a month.
The renowned artist furthered the “Mei school” of opera pioneered by his father, legendary Peking opera artiste Mei Lanfang. He was best-known for his portrayal of female characters in famous plays like The Drunken Beauty and Farewell My Concubine.
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Write to Rishi Iyengar at rishi.iyengar@timeasia.com