Valentina Lisitsa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valentina Lisitsa
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Lisitsa in 2003
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
Валентина Лисиця
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| Born | 1973 (age 51–52) Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Kyiv, Ukraine) |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Classical pianist |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1977–present |
Valentina Lisitsa is a talented pianist. She became famous by sharing her music online, especially on YouTube. She didn't start with a big record company or concert promoter. By 2012, she was one of the most-watched pianists on YouTube. In 2015, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra canceled her performances. This happened because of things she posted on social media about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
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Her Life and Music Journey
Valentina Lisitsa was born in Kyiv, which is now the capital of Ukraine. Her mother was a seamstress, and her father was an engineer. She started playing the piano when she was just three years old. She gave her first solo concert at age four! Her family has roots in Ukraine, Russia, and Poland.
Early Training and Success
Valentina went to the Lysenko music school and later the Kyiv Conservatory. There, she studied piano with Dr. Ludmilla Tsvierko. She also met her future husband, Alexei Kuznetsoff, at the conservatory. When they met, Valentina started taking her music studies even more seriously.
In 1991, Valentina and Alexei won first prize in a piano competition in Miami, Florida. That same year, they moved to the United States to continue their careers as concert pianists. They got married in 1992. Their first big concert in New York was in 1995 at the Mostly Mozart Festival.
Becoming a YouTube Star
Valentina Lisitsa posted her first video on YouTube in 2007. Her videos of Chopin etudes (which are like musical studies) became very popular. They were the most-watched online collection of Chopin etudes on YouTube.
In 2010, Valentina and her husband used their savings to record an album. It featured Rachmaninoff concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra. They hoped this would help her career. In 2012, before her first concert at the famous Royal Albert Hall in London, she signed with Decca Records. This company later released her recordings.
By mid-2012, her YouTube videos had been watched almost 50 million times! By mid-2020, this number grew to 200 million views. In early 2022, her YouTube channel had over 650,000 followers. She signed a new contract with a French record label called Naïve in 2021.
Valentina Lisitsa has performed in many famous concert halls around the world. These include Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London. She also shares her concerts and practice sessions online. She has even performed with the well-known violinist Hilary Hahn.
Social Media and Public Discussions
Valentina Lisitsa has shared her thoughts about the conflict in Ukraine on social media. She has expressed her views on what she sees as outside involvement in Ukraine.
In May 2022, she performed in front of the former Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow. This was to remember people who died in a fire in Odesa in 2014. On May 9, 2022, she played a concert in Mariupol to mark its joining with Russia.
Concert Cancellation in Toronto
In April 2015, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra canceled some of Valentina Lisitsa's planned performances. They said this was because of "provocative" posts she made on her Twitter account. The orchestra did not say exactly which posts caused the cancellation at first.
Valentina Lisitsa said the orchestra warned her not to talk about the cancellation. Later, the CEO of the Toronto Symphony shared a list of her tweets. He said it was not about free speech, but about her using "intolerant and offensive expression" on Twitter.
Some people, like the Toronto Star newspaper, disagreed with the orchestra's decision. They wrote that Valentina was invited to play the piano, not to discuss her political views. They felt that banning a musician for expressing opinions, even if some find them offensive, goes against the idea of free speech. However, the Ukrainian Weekly described her posts as "hate speech." Valentina Lisitsa responded by saying that using "satire and hyperbole" (exaggeration for effect) helps fight against lies.
Her Recorded Music
Valentina Lisitsa has made recordings for several music labels.
In October 2011, she released an album with violinist Hilary Hahn. It featured four sonatas for violin and piano by the composer Charles Ives. This album was released on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Her album Valentina Lisitsa Live at the Royal Albert Hall came out in July 2012. This album was recorded during her first performance at that famous venue.
See also
In Spanish: Valentina Lisitsa para niños
