Tributes pour in for pianist Fou Ts'ong

International recognition

At 21, Fou gained international recognition after winning the third prize and a special Mazurka award in the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1955. The achievement made him one of the first Chinese pianists to enjoy global attention.

In 1956, he made his debut tour of Europe, earning himself the title of "Piano Poet". He was acclaimed for his interpretations of Frederic Chopin's music.

Fou moved to London in 1958 and toured internationally, including a debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1961.

In 1982, he was appointed a guest professor in the piano department of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, and he visited China frequently for lectures and performances over the decades.

Marking what would have been his father's 100th birthday, in 2008, Fou gave a series of solo concerts dedicated to him.

Fou's piano training during his early years was portrayed in the book Fu Lei's Family Letters, which was published in 1981. Featuring letters written to Fou by Fu Lei and Fu's wife Zhu Meifu, the book is regarded as a crucial addition to Chinese literature. It is also held up as a guide for parenting, with a focus on building character for children.

In 2010, for the 200th birthday of Chopin, Fou gave a recital at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. At 80, he gave a recital in the Forbidden City Concert Hall in the capital.