Gary Graffman (left) and Lang Lang (right) perform Johannes Brahms' Sonata for Two Pianos in F minor at a concert inBeijing's National Center for the Performing Arts on Nov 29.[Photo provided to China Daily]

American pianist Gary Graffman has ties to China that go back to a time even before he met his famous Chinese students. Chen Jie interviews the musician.

American classical pianist Gary Graffman, 86, is better known in China as Chinese pianist Lang Lang's teacher. Graffman has also taught Wang Yuja and Zhang Haochen, two other talented internationally reputed Chinese pianists. On Nov 29, Graffman and Lang Lang performed together Johannes Brahms' Sonata for Two Pianos in F minor, at a Steinway anniversary concert in Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts.

Graffman is used to being referred to as "Lang Lang's teacher" whenever he plays in China. Not that he minds it and neither do his various other students.

Very few Chinese know that Graffman had made a name for himself worldwide as a pianist by the age of 20. But he sprained a finger in his right hand in 1977, and the injury forced him to play limited repertoires written for left-handed players of the piano. He joined the Philadelphia-based faculty of Curtis Institute of Music in 1980 and became its president in 1995.

But his family background should be even more interesting to Chinese.

Graffman's father lived in Shanghai and Harbin for a time before World War II, when he conducted a small orchestra of Russian musicians. Later, the family emigrated to the United States.

The pianist is a big fan of ancient Chinese art and his first 30 trips to the country had little to do with music.