Around the Music Festival

China’s leading violinist Sheng Zhongguo suddenly died on the 7th due to a heart attack. He was 77 years old. Born in Chongqing in 1941. His father was a famous violinist and his mother was a vocalist. Of the eleven brothers and sisters, ten people grew up as a music family and received a gifted education at a middle school attached to Central Music Institute in Beijing. Later he studied at the Soviet Union since 1960 and under Leonid Kogan at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. In 1962 he received the special honor award in the violin department of the Tchaikovsky Competition.

Returned to China in 1964. However, it was the Cultural Revolution that began in 1966, which he awaited. The tragedy is banned from playing the repertory of Western music. Persecution to musicians also began, many of which were forbidden to play and lost their jobs. For example, as a principal of the first Central Music Institute after experiencing studying in Paris, Ma Sicong, the most famous violinist in China, was forced to exile in the United States. Sheng was hit by the tragedy of losing an important teacher.

However, the Chinese government accepted the Chinese melody and allowed the performance of the violin concerto “Butterfly Lovers” made in 1959, so he played it and did not interrupt the activity. Through that performance, not only music fans but also one of the artists loved by the public widely in China. His wife was a Japanese pianist, Seta Hiroko, known to the buddy. In 2014 he appeared as a couple at a concert to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the foundation held in Great Hall of the People and was co-starring with the Chinese National Symphony Orchestra. Until recently he was developing vigorous activities.

Photo：Visual china