Welcome to Today's Focus. I am David Keyton.
 
On July 15th, the world's oldest opera singer, Cantonese Opera star Mr. Luo Pinchao, passed away peacefully in his home in the southern city of Guangzhou, leaving behind his family, friends and numerous fans. Luo was born in 1911 and began performing at the age of 12. He is recognized as the world's oldest opera singer by the Guinness Book of World Records and is honored as the master of Cantonese opera, a form of traditional Chinese theater delivered in the southern dialect. 

 
Having dedicated 80 years of his life to Cantonese opera, Luo Pinchao didn't only limit himself to classical Chinese opera. He contributed a lot to the modernization of the art form and created his own, what is named, "Luo's Performance Style" guaranteeing his posterity.
 
In 1988, Luo Pinchao migrated to the USA, but his passion and love for Cantonese opera never ceased. He made lot of efforts to promote Cantonese Opera overseas and train young apprentices. He was very active in performing on overseas stages, hoping to introduce Chinese art to the outside world.
 
In 2004, at the age of 93, Luo was preparing to celebrate the 74th anniversary of his first public show by performing in his most famous work, the historical story "Jin Ke." It was after this performance that the Guinness Book of World Records awarded Luo the title of "oldest opera actor in the world" on June 20, 2004. He is still, at this day, the keeper the record.
 
Luo Pinchao belonged to Cantonese Opera and his life is all about opera art. Here are some words we recorded in previous interviews:
"I am Luo Pinchao. I have spent over 80 years of my life on the opera stage. I have been acting for my whole life, in which I touched history with my own hands, experience the fickleness of the world, tasted the stories of mankind and the joys and sorrows of life. Looking back on my art life, there were many ups and downs. No matter what, deep in my mind has always only been Cantonese opera. I will never regret my life performing Cantonese Opera. If you ask me what I would like to do in my next life, I will say: I still want to be a Cantonese Opera artist."
 
The departure of Luo Pinchao is a big loss to Cantonese Opera and the Chinese opera circle. Many artists who worked with Luo before admire his attitude to art and people. Famous Cantonese Opera artist Ms. Liang Shuqing:
"I admire his earnest attitude to art and sincere attitude to people. I think he is absolutely in to art, because you can never fake it. And only with the real love for art, one can act well." 

Luo won people's respect not only with his prominent achievement in art, but also his charming personality. Luo's apprentice, Ms. Liang Rongkuan, will never forget how Luo encouraged her and helped her to recover from cancer. When Luo learned that she has been diagnosed with cancer, he was suffering from heart disease himself. He still managed to call Ms. Liang every day and cheered her up with conversations about their common hobby: Cantonese opera. Ms. Liang said:
"he told me that: 'you take good care of yourself, I am waiting for you to perform on the stage'. Even though he was suffering from a serious illness, he still thought about me. I appreciated his help very much. I can do nothing else honor him but sing well on the stage."
 
Another actor Cao Xiuqin, a first class artist in China, was unable to control her tears when recalling Mr. Luo:
"I don't know how to express my feeling. I am really sad. He was so excellent in both performance and personality. I really think he was so versatile in art and morality. He deserves our respect so much. It's a great pity to lose him."
 
Although we will never be able to hear Mr. Luo Pinchao sing again on stage, his great spirit and outstanding works are immortal and will stay with us as important heritages. We wish he rests in peace and would like to end this program with a recording of song sung by the master himself.