SingSongMandy: Visiting the music Master Guo Shuzhen in Beijing

到北京拜訪音樂泰斗郭淑珍女士

Ms. Tan mentioned to me for a few times that she would like to visit her 91 years old University lecturer Guo Shuzhen (郭淑珍) in Beijing (北京). Since she would be bringing along 8 other students with her, I turned down her offer politely. For whatever reason, later on she asked me (again!) to accompany her with just the two of us. So I arranged the necessary matters and accompanied her for that journey without uttering another word. I did not expect anything, since I really did not know who Guo Shuzhen was (silly me !). I was thinking if I could fulfill Tan about this old-age wish, that should be enough!

Beijing seemed to be a very different world since my last visit 16 years ago. I spent a whole day in Central Conservatory of Music Beijing (北京中央音樂學院) and was enjoying Guo's lectures. All her students had such a good voice... ah... These young people were so lucky to be in such an environment being surrounded by music and singing along. No need to talk about real life, of course. I was totally overwhelmed by Guo's dedication to her life long teaching in music. On a small note, Guo also gave me a few minutes and listened to my singing. She gave me a few comments and I should work hard on those inspirations.

The day after, we had a long good lunch together. I further asked her opinions on a few more singing items. I grew to like her as a person. I had changed my own opinion on this famous singer and felt more appreciative about her achievement and subsequent fame ! I thought people admired her, was only because of her being famous. I was so wrong, she was a very righteous person who loved her country and devoted her life to develop the opera singing in China.