Leslie Cheung's final message revealed
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 1, 2013
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Hong Kong singer Anthony Wong performs during a concert in memory of the late Hong Kong canto-pop singer and movie idol Leslie Cheung in Hong Kong in this picture provided by Fun Entertainment Limited March 31, 2013, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of his death.[China Daily] |
Leslie Cheung's former manager, Florence Chan, disclosed the late Hong Kong superstar's final message to his fans at the Tenth Anniversary Memorial Concert of his passing held in Hong Kong on March 31, saying Cheung wanted to "sleep well."
At the opening of the concert, Chan said in a previously recorded message, "On the day of April 1, 2003, the thunder-like sound broke many people's hearts, but at that time -- when I didn't realize what had happened -- I just felt my body become light and my soul flying high, and a voice told me, 'I can sleep sound and comfortably'."
She said she simply locked this uncanny moment away in her heart, "I haven't told this to anyone in ten years, until one day I heard the song 'To A Friend' by Jacky Cheung, and decided to share this message because the song expressed my feelings."
After the song was played, Chan continued, "You go and enjoy your freedom; we will miss you forever."
Chan accepted interviews in the days leading up to the concert, in which she recalled the events of that fateful day ten years ago, "I was supposed to have a meal with Leslie that day. But before we met, Leslie called me on the phone and he said 'I want to take this chance to observe Hong Kong carefully'."
Sensing that something was wrong, Chan rushed to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel where they were supposed to meet, "While I was on my way, I received a second phone call from Leslie. He said, 'Wait for me at the main entrance of the hotel. I will be there very soon'. However, my heart sank when I heard a loud bang coming from the direction of the hotel. I immediately tried to contact him, but to no avail."
She proclaimed in those interviews that she will unveil the message that Leslie wanted to share with people, attracting much attention and curiosity. Chan once said that she'd kept it to herself all this time, not even sharing it with Cheung's lover Daffy Tong, and that this made for the perfect opportunity. But after the message became public last night, many said on social network platforms that Chan was just in it for the hype.
However, the tribute concert entitled "Miss You Much Leslie" went smoothly after opening at the Hong Kong Coliseum, with performances from 22 megastars such as Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Kelly Chen, Jacky Cheung and Karen Mok.
"We haven't seen each other in ten years," Leslie's movie star friend Tony Leung said on stage at one point, "I feel everything is the same. I wonder, do you still remember us? "
Other memorial events marking the tenth anniversary of Cheung's death will take place in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and elsewhere.
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A five-metre-high sculpture of late Hong Kong singer Leslie Cheung is seen displayed at an exhibition for paying tribute to Cheung in Hong Kong, south China, March 30, 2013. The exhibition is held to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Leslie Cheung, who leapt to his death from a hotel in Hong Kong on April 1, 2003. A total of 1,900,119 origami cranes, folded by fans around the world, are displayed inside a giant red cube, which broke the Guinness World Record as "the largest display of origami cranes". [Photo: Xinhua/Chen Xiaowei] |
An exhibition is now being held in Hong Kong in commemoration of Cheung. Tens of thousands of fans gathered there to pay tribute to him. A five-meter-high sculpture of Cheung is on display, together with some of his personal items and records. More than 1.9 million origami cranes folded by fans around the world are also on show inside a giant red cube. It has broken the Guinness World Record as "the largest display of origami cranes."
In Shanghai, the New Hengshan Cinema will host screenings of Cheung's key films, including "Inner Senses," the award-winning "Farewell My Concubine" (1992), the romantic "The Phantom Lover" (1995), and the critically acclaimed martial arts movie "Ashes of Time" (1994) directed by Wong Kar-wai.
"Cheung's movies and songs have greatly influenced the post-1970s and 1980s generations and have become a nostalgic part of our memory," says Tao Jin, an official with the cinema. "These classic films represent his different performing styles at different times."
A group of young musicians from the Central Conservatory of Music will present a concert at Century Theater in Beijing on April 1 in remembrance of the star.
Nearly 20 popular songs by Cheung, including his first hits -- "The Wind Blows On," "Monica," "Red," and "Silence Is Golden" -- will be performed by musicians such as clarinet player Wang Tao, cellist Zhu Mu, pianist Chen Xinruo and guzheng player Su Chang. Actor Yu Shaoqun will act as the concert's storyteller introducing the star's life story to the audience.
In addition, several movie screening events starring Cheung were held in Beijing, Nanjing and other cities.
Cheung is seen as one of the founding fathers of Cantopop, combining a hugely successful film and music career spanning more than 30 albums and nearly 60 movies, and was known for his roles in the iconic films such as "Farewell My Concubine." He committed suicide on April 1, 2003, by jumping off the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong. He left a suicide note saying that he had been suffering from depression. He was 46 years-old.
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