Biography
Fou Ts'ong was born in Shanghai, China in 1934. After first studying with Mario Paci, he moved to Europe in 1953, to study with Zbigniew Drzewicki at the Warsaw Conservatory in Poland. In 1955, only some 12 years after he started playing the piano, he won Third Prize and a special Mazurka Prize at the renowned Chopin Piano Competition. Indeed, Herman Hesse - the notable writer - famously proclaimed Fou to the only true performer of Chopin's work. Fou was the first Oriental pianist to become successful in the West, and with his first performance in London, put paid to the idea - much touted at the time by critics - that orientals could not play nor understand European Classical music. Since his arrival in Europe, Fou has continued to perform around the world and his influence has been felt by many of the acknowledged great pianists of the past fifty years, including Martha Argerich and Radu Lupu. While still performing around the world, he also currently teaches at the International Piano Academy at Lake Como, Italy, and at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Fou Ts'ong lives in London.
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