Youtube's most popular pianist – now in a village church near you
mainI’ve received word that Valentina Lisitsa, watched by millions on youtube, is about to give an unscheduled Liszt recital here
in a 12th century village church on the outskirts of London. St Mary’s, Perivale,
is a popular venue with young artists trying out new rep on a fine concert grand. Val will be there this Wednesday at 7.30. Tickets are £10 at the door. No on-line sales. Critics are distinctly unwelcomed.
I can’t even advise you how to get there, having only ever been driven in by car. It’s on the western edge of London. Go. Val’s worth it.
Dear Mr. Lebrecht,
We are keeping the best seat in a house for you and I would be thrilled if you could stop by. The place is not as easy to find as, say, Wigmore Hall – I agree. But I will be waiting for re-invite from Wigmore for a very long time, I guess… St. Mary’s concert series’ presenter contacted me two weeks ago ( August 23rd to be exact )and in an hour we set everything up – date , repertory… I wish all concerts came up so easily. I owe them a favor in any case – they let me “torture” their piano for good three days while I was getting ready for Rach recording with LSO last year. I am sure they incurred a hefty piano tuning bill afterwards 🙂
I am happy to do at least something to return the favor. All funds go for the benefit of the venue, I am doing it for free ( I have to stress it in case some border agent reads it – no I don’t need work permit for free concert, lol ). They do such a fine job presenting so many concerts and giving an opportunity for hundreds of emerging musicians to be heard.
Kindest regards – and huge “thank you!”,
Val
Dear Val
I so wish I could…. but I’m on my way home from Paris and cannot get the Eurostar to stop at Perivale. But I do look forward to hearing you again very, very soon.
all best wishes
Norman
I am on Eurostar too – first morning train heading to Paris !
Well, we missed each other by a few hours… I am sure I can get a quick re-engagement in St. Mary’s – it was “standing room only” yesterday (entirely thanks to you !)
I was there!!! There were fans from all points of the compass who had made the journey to West London – It was standing room only by start time. Val’s playing was stupendous. The colour and range that she coaxed from the piano were unbelievable – the gradual fading of crescendi persisting as gorgeous pianissimo movements entered the consciousness – sounds that I never could imagine coming from just one instrument. Fingers caressing the keys before exploding into a mesmerising flurry of movement and amazing sound. My heart was racing and I was only a spectator!
By the end there was a buzz of excitement and joy as the audience crowded round to meet and greet a truly great pianist who deserves to grace all the great stages of the music world. Hurry back to London, Valentina – or anywhere else within striking distance – meanwhile YouTube here I come.