Cui Guangli's large fan base crosses all ages and all walks of life. But her biggest fan is her husband Joe, a Chinese-American, who immigrated to the US twenty years ago.
The two met in last autumn at a casual friends meeting. Joe was first attracted by Guangli's forthright personality, and later, by her devotion to her art.
Joe He, Cui’s husband said, “I first had a good feeling about her because she’s natural and principled. She’s very clear about what to love and what to hate. As I got to know more about her, and read a lot of reports about her, I was impressed by her devotion to Sichuan Opera. When the genre was at its lowest ebb, there was still one artist who persisted and never gave up, despite the hardship and obstacles. She was so absorbed by her art that sometimes she’d wake me up at night and ask whether some parts could be better if she did it this way. I was moved. She loves her art so much. Although there are some hardships, I'll support her.”
With her husband's understanding and support, Cui finds it easier to go forward in her art.
With two major awards to her credit, she's ready to go even higher. She's recently studied in the "class for varied operatic artists" at the Central Academy of Drama.
After thirty-three years together, Cui and Sichuan Opera are inseparable.
Cui is also optimistic of the fate of Sichuan Opera.
She believes three-hundred-year-old opera is the "root" of the local people, and the "root" will not die.
Local people need the art, and she will continue to bring it to them.
(CCTV June 26, 2009)
