During high school, his classmates took him to an outdoor square in Shanghai to listen to concerts, featuring songs composed by Xian and Nie Er.

His first song translation is a Russian piece, The Peace Song for Soldiers, which he completed in 1953.

"I was turned down by the university because of my health condition. But I gained self-confidence after I translated those Russian songs," he says.

Besides Russian, he also learned other foreign languages on his own, such as English, Spanish and Japanese. Among the foreign songs he translated are Moon River, I Just Call to Say I Love You and Say You, Say Me.

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Xue has translated more than 2,000 foreign songs. He considers Russian songs the most unique and the most connected to Chinese listeners.

"Love is an eternal theme in songs from around the world. In English songs, the lyrics are direct and words like 'love', 'touch', 'hold' are frequently used. But for Russian songs, love covers a wider range: It is not only love between young lovers but also love for friends and homeland," says Xue.

In 1997, former Russian president Boris Yeltsin visited China and awarded Xue with the Order of Friendship for his work of strengthening friendship and cooperation between Russia and China.

Xue will be the special guest of The Sound of China New Year Concert, which will be staged at the Great Hall of the People on Dec 30.

According to Guan Xia, the executive director of China National Symphony Orchestra - who launched the concert three years ago to showcase the charm of Western and Chinese classical music to Chinese audiences - this year's concert was inspired by Mo Yan, the first Chinese winner of the Nobel Prize in literature.

"The seamless translation helped Mo's work reach international readers," says Guan, 56, who is also a composer. "Xue Fan did the same with songs."

The 2012 The Sound of China New Year Concert will have a section dedicated to Russian songs that are popular in China.

"Our vision is to introduce classical music to Chinese audiences. I believe that through classical Russian songs, such as Nights in Moscow's Suburbs, audiences will get closer to classical music," Guan says.

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Guo Shuzhen, a soprano and music educator who was the first singer to sing Russian songs translated by Xue, is full of praise for Xue. "I knew Xue for decades but I only met him in person several years ago. The lyrics he wrote were so beautiful," the 85-year-old says.

But Xue admits that Russian songs are not popular anymore. "Only middle-aged or old people still sing and miss Russian songs today, which is a sad thing," he says. "I want more young people to listen to the songs."

chennan@chinadaily.com.cn