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 Yevhenivna Lisitsa is a well-known pianist. She was born in 1973. Valentina became famous by sharing her music online. She did this without first signing with a big music company. By 2012, she was one of the most-watched pianists on YouTube. Sometimes, her concerts were canceled because of her strong opinions about events in Ukraine.
Contents
Life and Music Career
Early Life and Piano
Valentina Lisitsa was born in Kiev, which is now called Kyiv, in Ukraine. Her mother, also named Valentina, worked as a seamstress. Her father, Evgeny, was an engineer.
Valentina started playing the piano when she was just three years old. She gave her first solo concert at the age of four. Her family background includes Russian and Polish roots from her mother's side. Her father's family is from Ukraine.
Music School and Marriage
Valentina went to the Lysenko music school. Later, she studied at the Kyiv Conservatory. There, she met her future husband, Alexei Kuznetsoff. They both studied piano with Dr. Ludmilla Tsvierko. When Valentina met Alexei, she started to take her music studies 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. They wanted to continue their careers as concert pianists. The couple got married in 1992. They performed together for the first time in New York in 1995.
Becoming a YouTube Star
Valentina Lisitsa posted her first video on YouTube in 2007. She shared her recordings of Chopin's etudes (study pieces). These videos became very popular. They reached the top spot on Amazon's list of classical video recordings. They also became the most-watched collection of Chopin etudes on YouTube.
In 2010, Valentina and her husband used their savings to record music with the London Symphony Orchestra. They hoped this would help her career. In 2012, she signed a contract with Decca Records. This was before her first concert at the famous Royal Albert Hall in London. Decca Records later released her recordings.
By mid-2012, her YouTube videos had almost 50 million views. By 2020, her videos had reached 200 million views! In early 2022, her YouTube channel had over 650,000 followers. In 2021, Valentina signed a three-year contract with a French music company called Naïve.
Famous Performances
Valentina Lisitsa has played in many famous concert halls. These include Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall in New York. She has also performed at Musikverein in Vienna and the Royal Albert Hall in London. She often shares her concerts and practice sessions online. She has also performed with the well-known violinist Hilary Hahn.
Political Views and Activities
Valentina Lisitsa has shared her strong opinions about events in Ukraine. She has spoken against what she sees as outside involvement in Ukraine.
On May 2, 2022, Valentina performed a concert in front of the former Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow. On May 9, 2022, she played a concert in Mariupol.
Music Recordings
Valentina Lisitsa has recorded music for several labels. These include Audiofon, CiscoMusic, and VAI.
In October 2011, she released an album with violinist Hilary Hahn. This album featured four sonatas for violin and piano by the composer Charles Ives. It was released on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Her album Valentina Lisitsa Live at the Royal Albert Hall was released on July 2, 2012. This album was based on her first performance at that famous venue.
See also
In Spanish: Valentina Lisitsa para niños
