The rise of Chinese pianists

The Chinese city of Shenzhen is vying with its rival Shanghai for cultural and economic supremacy. With 8 per cent of its population dollar millionaires, Deng Xiaoping’s showpiece economic zone now boasts a vast museum, sports complex, a state-of-the-art concert hall — and China’s first ever Piano Concerto Competition. As a keen observer of Asia’s infatuation with Western classical music, I had to be there.

The competition, which has prize money worth $30,000 plus the promise of concert engagements with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, is the brainchild of Dan Xiaoyi, the city’s foremost piano professor. He’s become something of a local hero in that his students have been scooping up top awards for their performances around the world. A smattering of Koreans and Europeans joined the 23 Chinese contestants, who performed last month in front of a specially selected international jury in Shenzhen’s Grand Theatre.

The opening ceremony offered a dazzling display of what the Chinese do best, not least of which is extravagant courtesy.