Valentina Lisitsa is a Ukrainian-born and trained classical pianist who resides in North Carolina. Lisitsa is among the most frequently viewed pianists on YouTube and is often praised as a highly commendable pianist. (Wikipedia)
"How do classical artists grab attention these days? Simple — or, actually, not so simple at all. They build their fan bases on YouTube, one page hit at a time." Read the full article from NPR. Or read the latest review in the New York Times.
I discovered her browsing Youtube, probably comparing various performances of classical piano. It was appreciation at first listen. Her clarity was perfect and technique stunning. The things that amateurs only dream of. Her repertoire is purely classical; Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and others. Her Youtube offerings are staggering compared to other artists. Her concerts play around the World, and Boston can only hope.
Visit her Youtube site and enjoy her views on classical music and of course, her performances. Or visit her professional site. Watch out, the sound comes on suddenly and she is interviewing.
What does it take to be a world class Pianist? Besides super talent, a devoted work schedule. Valentina is noted for being bold and providing live practice sessions (several 12 hour days of continuous feed ) and a Chopin recording session (4 days of feed) but those are gone. This is her latest live session, recorded and uploaded to Youtube for her fans.