17 Facts About Fou Ts'ong

Fou Ts'ong was a Chinese and British pianist who was the first pianist of his national origin to achieve international recognition.

Fou Ts'ong came to prominence after winning third prize and the Polish Radio Prize for the best performance of Chopin's mazurkas in the 1955 V International Chopin Piano Competition, and remained particularly known as an interpreter of Chopin's music.

Fou Ts'ong was born in Shanghai on 10 March 1934 to a family of intellectuals; his father was the translator Fu Lei.

Fou Ts'ong first studied piano with Mario Paci, the Italian founder of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

In 1951, Fou Ts'ong made his debut in his hometown of Shanghai, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 5.

Subsequently, officials in Beijing selected Fou Ts'ong to perform and compete in eastern Europe.

In 1955, Fou Ts'ong won the third prize and the Polish Radio Prize for the best performances of Chopin's mazurkas in the V International Chopin Piano Competition.

In 1958 or 1959, Fou Ts'ong settled permanently in London, and soon began giving concerts in Europe and the United States.

Fou Ts'ong was nominated for a Grammy for most promising new classical artist in 1963 for a recording of Scarlatti's sonatas.

Fou Ts'ong performed in Australia, South America and the Far East.

Fou Ts'ong remained associated throughout his career with playing Chopin, and Fou's recital programmes often included several of his works.

Indeed hearing Fou Ts'ong, he said, was to hear the "pure gold" of Chopin himself playing.

Fou Ts'ong was a member of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition's jury in 1991,1999,2003,2007, and 2010.

Fou Ts'ong served on the jury of the Chopin Competition in 1985 and 2010, and on the jury of the Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition in 2002.

From 1960 to 1969, Fou Ts'ong was married to Zamira Menuhin, the daughter of Yehudi Menuhin, with whom he had one son.

In 1987, Fou Ts'ong married the Chinese pianist Patsy Toh, with whom he had one son.

Fou Ts'ong died from COVID-19 in London on 28 December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in England at age 86.