Piano enthusiasts in Beijing are lucky enough to be able to enjoy a concert by Fou Tsong, one of the most renowned Chinese pianists in the world next week.
His April 25 concert at the Poly Theatre is to go ahead as planned, unlike many other concerts and shows that have been cancelled or postponed.
Fou will play his signature works of Chopin, Haydn and Debussy at the concert.
In 1955, Fou won third prize and the Mazurka Prize in the Chopin Competition in the Polish capital Warsaw.
It was a case of national glory for China. Arguably the first brilliant Chinese piano talent who entered the world's center stage, Fou initiated a new chapter of Chinese participation and achievements in the international music arena.
Unlike his fellow contestants from Europe as well as today's young players, Fou's training was very limited. He was trained between the ages of 10 and 12 and between 17 and 18 by two ordinary pianists and for only seven months by Zbigniew Drzewicki at the Warsaw Conservatory, prior to the competition.
Fou himself once said: "Today's young pianists have much better training in technique than I received at their age. I was often impressed by the applicants' techniques when I served in competition juries."
But the 69-year-old master said he believes that marvelous skill does not equal wonderful music.
"That's different," he said. "Besides fabulous techniques, you should have your own understanding about the piece you play. Good music is personal and creative. That does not come from hours of training but a lifetime of work."
Many believe that, besides his musical gifts, Fou Tsong's extraordinary achievements are principally attributable to his upbringing, particularly by his late father Fou Lei, the famous Chinese scholar and translator.
Fou Tsong was born in 1934 and grew up in an intellectual atmosphere of Chinese culture. This formed the spiritual and cultural roots that have permeated Fou Tsong's music.
"My father once told me that sincerity must be number one. Music that can touch your heart must be very sincere. Music from your heart has a natural impact on audiences. Someone could play gorgeous music that would be a feast to your ears but being moving is something else."
The book Fu Lei Jiashu (Fou Lei's Family Letters) gives an insight into the father-son relationship. Vividly depicted in the father's letters to his young sons were merciless discipline, judicious advice, boundless knowledge, patriotic devotion, unyielding righteousness and, above all, fatherly love.
It must be the rich vein of values and integrity in the Fou family that sustained Fou Tsong during his very difficult years of tribulation and pain.
Since 1955, Fou has been firmly established as one of China's greatest contemporary pianists.
Hearing Fou play, the late German writer Hermann Hesse exclaimed: "It was real Chopin... the Chopin of Warsaw and Paris, the Paris of Heinrich Heine and the young Listz..."
Even though many young Chinese pianists have captured a world audience, people still gush over Fou's Chopin awards.
But Fou himself is very modest. "People still like to talk about my winning the Chopin Competition in 1955 but it was half a century ago. Today's Fou Tsong has become very different from 50 years ago," he said.
"Every nation can have their great interpreter of Chopin. China is a very poetic nation. This character is very close to the great Polish musician."
Talking about today's Chinese young pianists, Fou said: "China now has some very talented players, such as Lang Lang, Li Yundi and Chen Sa. I will be happy if they do better than me."
(China Daily April 14, 2003)
