Pianist Fou Ts’ong died on Monday from COVID-19 at the age of 86, according to media reports.

Fou was battling COVID-19 in Britain, his student Kong Jianing confirmed on Sunday. Kong, a professor at the Royal College of Music, revealed on his WeChat Moments that Fou had undergone treatment in a London hospital for the past two weeks.

Kong received the information from Fou’s wife and pianist Patsy Toh, who was also hospitalized and returned home after three days of treatment. Kong said Toh has basically recovered.

Born in Shanghai, Fou first studied piano with Italian pianist Mario Paci. In 1953, Fou moved to Poland to continue his studies and won the third prize and the special Mazurka Prize at the 1955 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw.

Since settling in London in 1958, he has performed throughout the world. He was especially acclaimed for his interpretations of the music of Frédéric Chopin. Fou has been noted by The New York Times for his “sensitive ear for color,” “elusive gift of melody” and his “impetuous spirit.”

Fou was a member of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition’s jury in 1991, 1999 and 2007. In 1982, he was appointed as an adjunct professor in the piano department of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, frequently visiting China for lectures and performances in the past decades.

From 1960 to 1969, Fou was married to Zamira Menuhin, the daughter of violin master and educator Yehudi Menuhin.

Fou’s father Fu Lei (1908-1966) was a prominent writer and translator.

(SD-Agencies)