Valentina Lisitsa

Described by critics as a "bona fide angel playing" and an "electrifying pianist", the Ukrainian-born Valentina Lisitsa has been receiving rave reviews ever since here debut in Avery Fisher Hall for Mostly Mozart Festival. With her multi-faceted playing described as "dazzling", Valentina is at ease in a vast repertoire ranging from Bach and Mozart to Shostakovich and Bernstein. Her orchestral repertory alone includes more than forty different concerti performed so far. She admits to have a special affinity to music of Rachmaninoff and Beethoven. She performed all Rachmaninoff’s concerti and next year will perform "The 5th " with the Rotterdam Philharmonic. She is embarking on an ambitious project of recording all of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas - often a lifelong task which was achieved by a very select few artists. With her highly individual and fearless approach to every work she performs, she has been greeted by enthusiastic audiences throughout the world - her recital debut in Vienna's Musikverein Golden Hall (2008) received multiple standing ovations from Viennese listeners, known to be toughest to please... Born in Kiev, Ms. Lisitsa began playing the piano at the age of three and performed her first solo recital at age four. After her studies - first in Lysenko School of Music and then in Kiev Conservatory -Valentina moved to US and eventually became a citizen of that country. She has been performing in the world's most prestigious concert venues. In the season of 2008-09 she has more than 80 performances with more adding up every week. Among her recent collaborations were tours with Sao Paolo Symphony, the New Zealand Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic and Prague Chamber Orchestra. An avid chamber music player, Valentina has performed with Lynn Harrell, Jimmy Lin, Roberto Diaz, Ida Haendel to name a few. But her most important musical partnership has been with the superb violinist Hilary Hahn. They toured together in 2007 with an extensive tours planned for 2009 in Europe, North and South America, and Japan. Valentina has recorded 8 CDs (Audiofon label) and 3 independently released DVDs including best-selling set of Chopin's 24 Etudes which held coveted #1 spot on Amazon music video list. Her new highly anticipated CD is scheduled for a release later this season. Valentina's preferred piano brand is Bosendorfer, in particular the flagship Imperial model. She finds this piano's inimitable sound a perfect match for her artistry and technique. Valentina's current home is in rural North Carolina where she finds refuge from her hectic travel schedule. Valentina jokingly calls herself a "redneck pianist " because unlike many of her peers she makes her home base not in a major city but in North Carolina's beautiful countryside. She shares her home with a jolly menagerie of four concert grands, two cats, a three-year old son, and her partner in life and piano duo ( in married and musical life ) Alexei Kuznetsoff. On rare occasions when she has some free time home she enjoys organic gardening , restoring her? old historic mansion and cooking Italian. Most of her "free" time however is devoted to practicing and learning new pieces. Music is truly her biggest passion.




Chopin Etude Op 10 No.4

This is one of her performance that i like. She has 100+ others from her official website at http://www.youtube.com/valentinalisitsa. I think her playing is absolutely amazing!! This is what we called playing the piano...