Over the past couple of months, Slipped Disc has been enthusing over a Ukrainian pianist who, entirely by her own resourcefulness, has become the most popular classical keyboard artist on Youtube, outclicking Lang Lang by literally millions of hits.

Last month, fans came from all over the UK to hear her give an impromptu performance in a medieval church outside London. Once more, Slipped Disc had the only report of this mass phenomenon.

Now, as a result of these reports, Valentina Lisitsa has been booked to play the Royal Albert Hall in the run-up to the 2102 London Olympics. That’s a 5,000-seat hall booked for a solo, unknown pianist. We, at Slipped Disc, could not be more thrilled. Book now, before the touts get all the best tickets.

Here’s the final press release.

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

 

 

 

Royal Albert Hall and IMG Artists present:

 

Valentina Lisitsa– 19 June 2012, Royal Albert Hall

 

 

Heralded as ‘a gigantic talent’ and her multi-faceted playing described as ‘dazzling’, pianist Valentina Lisitsa pushes traditional boundaries to reach out to audiences around the globe. Now the most sought-after classical musician on the web performs at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 19June 2012 for a special one-off piano recital.

 

 

 

A champion in the use of new media, with more than 30 million YouTube channel views and more than 42,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel, Valentina Lisitsa is one of the most popular contemporary classical musicians in the world and has changed perceptions on how classical music can be viewed and performed. Last summer, thousands of music fans worldwide witnessed the live broadcast of her practice sessions as she learnt and prepared almost 4 hours of new music in daily 14-hour sessions, allowing Valentina to show a different aspect of her artistic persona. With almost 2 million hits for just one of her videos, she is the most popular pianist on YouTube.

 

 

 

Having performed around the world including debuts with the Chicago Symphony, Seattle Symphony, WDR Cologne, Seoul Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and the Pittsburgh Symphony, she has bedazzled audiences with her vast repertoire ranging from Bach and Mozart to Shostakovich and Bernstein. She admits to having a special affinity for the music of Rachmaninoff and Beethoven and continues to add to her vast repertoire each season. Her orchestral repertoire alone includes more than forty concerti. She has also recorded 3 independently released DVDs, including her best-selling set of Chopin’s 24 Etudes, which long held the coveted No.1 spot on the Amazon music video list.

 

 

 

This special concert is presented by the Royal Albert Hall and IMG Artists as part of the Hall’s growing commitment to promote more events itself and provide new and diverse visitor experiences for as wide a range of music lovers as possible. Jasper Hope, Chief Operating Officer at the Hall, said “We are delighted to welcome Valentina Lisitsa to the Hall for her debut performance at the venue. Her presentation of classical music in a modern context and huge online popularity is nothing short of phenomenal and this concert on the world’s most famous stage will no doubt add to her ever growing fan base”

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to editor:

 

 

 

For more information, please contact Sean Carrigan on 020 7959 0531 or email seanc@royalalberthall.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listings details:

 

Valentina Lisitsa at the Royal Albert Hall, Tuesday 19 June, 8pm

 

Tickets: £10- £35 (plus booking fee) – on sale Thursday 10 November 2011 at 9am

 

Box Office: 020 7589 8212 or book online at www.royalalberthall.com