Upon hearing Chinese pianist Fou Ts’ong perform Chopin in the early 1960s, the great German novelist Herman Hesse wrote, “It breathed the fragrance of violets, of rain in Majorca and also of exclusive salons, it rang of melancholy and rang of modishness, the rhythmic definition was as sensitive as the dynamics. It was a wonder.”

Although he’s not often found in the major concert halls of the world today, this sort of efflorescent exuberance often followed 75 year old Fou Ts’ong throughout Europe, some 40 years ago. During the 1960s, Fou was considered an international luminary of sorts, once being declared China’s greatest living musician by Time Magazine. A London resident since his defection from China in 1960, Fou was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hong Kong University in 1983. His international touring has slowed down in recent years, although he is commonly seen among the distinguished judging panels of prominent European music competitions.

This fortnight, Fou returns to the keys to collaborate with the Macao Orchestra in performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, in addition to the regional premiere of Symphony No. 4 by Anton Bruckner. In review of his last performance in New York in 2006, the Times said, “Mr. Fou always has time to draw out phrases and create pregnant silences... his tendency to sever Chopin’s linear writing in midflow and then leave it to dangle in musical space borders on the eccentric.” By all accounts, the aged master hasn’t lost a step. Steve Cheng

Tickets: (853) 8797 7713;
www.ccm.gov.mo.