Valentina Lisitsa, piano – November
Concert Guest Soloist

Ukrainian-born Valentina Lisitsa has been receiving rave reviews since her 1995 debut in Avery Fisher Hall at the Mostly Mozart Festival. Her multi-faceted playing has been described as "dazzling," and she is at ease in a vast repertoire ranging from Bach and Mozart to Shostakovich and Bernstein. Admitting to a special affinity for music of Rachmaninoff and Beethoven, she has presented all of the former’s concerti and next year will perform the latter’s 5th symphony with the Rotterdam Philharmonic. Her recital debut in Vienna's Musikverein Golden Hall (2008) received multiple standing ovations from Viennese listeners, known to be discriminating critics. 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 and eventually became a citizen of the U.S. Much in demand and performing in the world's most prestigious concert venues, Valentina’s recent collaborations have included 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 and Ida Haendel, to name a few. Her most important musical partnership has been with the superb violinist Hilary Hahn, with whom she has toured in Europe, North and South America and Japan. Valentina has recorded eight CDs (Audiofon label) and three independently released DVDs, including a set of Chopin's twenty-four Etudes which held the coveted #1 spot on Amazon.com’s music video list. Her preferred piano brand is Bosendorfer, in particular the flagship Imperial model, which she finds a perfect match for her artistry and technique.

Valentina jokingly calls herself a "redneck pianist" because, unlike many of her peers who reside in major cities, her home base is 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 husband Alexei Kuznetsoff, the other half of this brilliant piano-duo. When she has some free time at home, she enjoys organic gardening, restoring her historic mansion and cooking Italian cuisine.

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