VALENTINA LISITSA
(piano)

Ukrainian born pianist, Valentina Lisitsa is capturing the attention of audiences throughout the world for her stunning virtuosity and unequaled sense of lyricism in an already formidable repertoire of romantic and late classical masterpieces. Ms. Lisitsa has been acclaimed, bringing to the concert stage rare technical mastery combined with deep musical understanding.

Ms. Lisitsa first appeared on stage at the age of four and earned a scholarship to complete her studies at the famed Kiev Conservatory at the age of seven. Under the instruction of the legendary Professor I. Tsvierko, Ms. Lisitsa, along with her husband, Alexei Kuznetsoff, won prizes in the Murray Dranoff Two Piano Competition, Concertino Prague, The Lysenko Piano Competition, The Paris Chamber Music Competition, and the Ukrainian Chamber Music Competition. Since moving to the United States in 1992, Ms. Lisitsa has given concerts extensively throughout the country and abroad. Besides enjoying a fast-growing solo career, she continues to collaborate with her husband, as well as appearing frequently with numerous chamber groups. Since making her debut in New York City, at the Mostly Mozart Festival with Gerard Schwarz at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, Valentina Lisitsa has regularly received critical praise for her performances. Her debut performance of Rachmaninoff s Second Concerto with the Florida Philharmonic prompted the Miami Herald critic, James Roos to report, " Lisitsa, in fact, projected the full sweep of the score and its power of inundating impact. Her performance was so emotionally sincere and authentic it eventually should be recorded". Ms. Lisitsa performed the Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos with Alexei Kuznesoff on the United States tour with the Orchestra National de France, Charles Dutoit conducting, as well with the Little Orchestra Society at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

Valentina often collaborates with other musicians for chamber music events. She has performed with Lynn Harrell, Ida Haendel, Cho-Liang Lin, Vadim Repin. Most recently, Ms. Lisitsa has given recitals at the Carnegie Hall, The Seoul Arts Center in South Korea, group of recitals at the famous Milan Conservatory . Highlights of the 2003-04 season include performances with Atlanta Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, Chicago’s Grant Park Festival, Sao Paolo Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Charleston Symphony, New Zealand Philharmonic, European tour with Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra; solo and chamber music recitals in Milan, New York, Chicago, Miami, San Diego and others.

Mrs. Lisitsa has recorded seven highly acclaimed disks for Audiofon label. Her recordings include performances of Shostakovich's First Piano Concerto with the Ekaterinburg Symphony Orchestra, Sarah Caldwell conducting, two CDs of duo piano performances, the Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata with William De Rosa, and three solo recital programs ranging from Mozart to Prokofiev. In addition to her extensive discography, Ms. Lisitsa has also recently finished a television program entitled "Valentina in Miami"- a one hour music special produced and presented by PBS affiliate WLRN in Miami, Florida, and was featured in a segment of the CBS News program "Sunday Morning."

For more information about Valentina Lisitsa,
please visit her web site at www.valentinalisitsa.com.