Role

:

Conductor  

Birth

:

March 10, 1934 in Shanghai, China

Death

:

December 28, 2020 in London, England

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Fou Ts'ong was a renowned Chinese pianist who was born on March 10, 1934, in Shanghai, China. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father, Fu Lei, was a famous translator and writer. Fou Ts'ong's mother, Zhu Meifu, was a pianist, and she was his first piano teacher. Fou Ts'ong started playing the piano at the age of four, and he showed great talent from an early age. He studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he was taught by renowned pianist and composer, Ding Shande. In 1953, he won first prize at the National Piano Competition in China, which was a significant achievement for a young pianist. In 1957, Fou Ts'ong traveled to Poland to study with the famous pianist, Zbigniew Drzewiecki, at the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. He was the first Chinese pianist to study in Europe, and his time in Poland had a significant impact on his musical development. He was deeply influenced by the music of Chopin, and he became known for his interpretations of Chopin's works. Fou Ts'ong made his debut in Europe in 1958, at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. He was the first Chinese pianist to participate in the competition, and he won third prize. This was a significant achievement, and it helped to establish his reputation as a pianist. Over the next few years, Fou Ts'ong performed extensively in Europe, and he became known for his sensitive and poetic interpretations of classical music. He was particularly admired for his performances of Chopin's works, and he was often compared to the great pianist, Arthur Rubinstein. In 1960, Fou Ts'ong made his debut in the United States, performing at the Carnegie Hall in New York. He received critical acclaim for his performance, and he was praised for his technical skill and musical sensitivity. Fou Ts'ong continued to perform extensively throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and he became one of the most respected pianists of his generation. He performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. In addition to his performances, Fou Ts'ong was also a respected teacher, and he taught at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. He was known for his patient and insightful teaching style, and he had a significant impact on the development of many young pianists. Fou Ts'ong received many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1975, he was awarded the Order of Merit by the Polish government, in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of Polish music. In 2002, he was awarded the Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement, in recognition of his achievements in the field of classical music. Fou Ts'ong continued to perform and teach until his death on December 28, 2020, at the age of 86. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of his generation, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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