FOU TS'ONG: Piano

Fou Ts'ong was born in Shanghai in 1934 and grew up in an intellectual environment in the old China.

In 1951 he made his debut playing the Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto with the Shanghai Orchestra and two years later he entered the Bucharest Piano Competition, winning third prize.  On his next visit to Europe he won the third prize in the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw as well as the coveted First Prize for his playing g of Chopin Mazurkas.  This resulted in a scholarship at the Warsaw Conservatory where he studied with professor Drzewicki, graduating with the Conservatory's top award.  During his four years in Poland, he gave over 200 concerts in Eastern Europe.

In December 1958 he came to London, which has since been his base, from where he travels for several months of the year.  As well as being one of this country's most popular and respected pianists, Fou Ts'ong continues to be one of the most travelled artists on the international scene, appearing regularly each season throughout Europe, both East and West, Scandinavia, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand as well as the Americas.  A recent major tour of Japan resulted in an immediate re-invitation for further tours with Japan's leading orchestras.  Described by Time magazine as "The greatest Chinese musician alive today", Fou Ts'ong has been particularly acclaimed for his interpretations of Mozart, Chopin and Debussy.

The 60-year-old Fou Ts'ong has said of himself: "I am a beginner.  Thank God, now I am really beginning to understand music.  Besides: Ts'ong means 'good ear'.  Its Chinese character is composed of an ear, an open window and a heart."