Three well-known pianists from France, Germany and Finland will hold a free concert at a student camping site - Oriental Green Boat, later this month to support Shanghai's fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Invited by their common friend, Shanghai pianist Xu Zhong, they recently confirmed their participation by fax.
"With my music and performance, I want to help you put up a banner against the fear of SARS," Sebastian Knauer, the German pianist, wrote in the fax.
According to Xu, French pianist Philippe Entremont and his students - Knauer and Finn Laura Mikkola - performed in Shanghai before and were impressed of the city.
"They offer their music to assuage people's fears in such difficult times. As a pianist, I am thankful to them, especially Entremont, who is also my teacher," said Xu.
Entremont, 69, is one of the world's leading pianists and a well-known conductor. He is particularly famous for his piano performances in the early 20th Century repertory and music of the Classical Era. He has recorded more than 100 CDs with labels like EMI and Sony.
Shanghai GM will promote the concert as a sole sponsor in the name of its new product Buick Regal, according to Xu.
Though SARS has led to cancellation of many performances, including the May 20-31 Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, this concert has got special approval from the city government, Xu claimed.
(eastday.com May 10, 2003)
