63, Cambridge Street • London • SW1V 4PS
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7976 5041 • email: info@tashmina.co.uk
Sophia Lisovskaya
Piano
Sophia Lisovskaya was born in Moscow into a family of professional musicians. Having shown early promise she gave her first public performance at the age of six in Moscow’s Museum of Fine Art, one of Sviatoslav Richter’s favourite venues, and has since continued to follow the grand tradition of the old Russian School with a lineage of professors leading directly back to the great figures of Neuhaus, Sofronitzky and Scriabin. Indeed, to quote The American Record Guide:
“…coming close to the standard set by Sofronitzky and Richter for these pieces. These are outstanding performances.”
First formal distinction came at the age of 13 when she won first prize in the All Soviet Competition: “New Names” performing Chopin’s 2nd piano concerto with the former Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra, whilst studying at the Tchaikovsky Junior Conservatoire of Music. Sophia completed her musical education in the West, taking up the offer of a full scholarship at London’s Royal Academy of Music in 1994 and gaining a scholarship from London’s Philharmonia Orchestra in 1996. In parallel with her studies, Sophia Lisovskaya’s career continued to blossom from her teens onwards with engagements such as her tour in South America performing Rachmaninov’s 4th concerto in Buenos Aires (at the Teatro de Colon), Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. She subsequently performed throughout Europe including appearances at St. James’ Palace (London), the Vasteras Concert Hall (Sweden), and her recital at Wigmore Hall (London).
Recent seasons have seen Sophia performing numerous concerts all over the UK, culminating in a return to London’s Wigmore Hall where she performed a recital focusing on the late works of Chopin as well as works of the great Russian composers. Continuing to expand her Russian repertoire Sophia also gave her debut in Sweden on tour performing Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto. Her debut in the legendary “Great Hall” of the Moscow Conservatoire, performing the premiere of Bruch’s Double Piano Concerto with the Moscow State Chamber Orchestra in their Winter Proms season, was a huge success and she has made a number of broadcasts including live performances on National Swedish Radio, BBC Radio 3 and Moscow Radio.
Sophia continues to pursue her pianistic career upholding her strong belief and commitment to artistic integrity. Her repertoire is broad although her childhood love of Russian composers has never left her and indeed her debut CD was a recital disc of the composer Scriabin, which was released on the Swedish label BIS. Critical acclaim again praised her traditional Russian approach with Michel Le Naour of Le Monde de la Musique writing:
“There is no denying that Lisovskaya possesses the sensitivity and technique that allows her to step beyond the technical pitfalls Scriabin’s music is littered with.”
Her live performances are invariably described as original and powerful, with particular praise reserved for her ability to make a strong impact on audiences with her unique, recognisable sound. The Music Director of the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Zurich Opera House, Maestro Vladimir Fedoseev refers to Sophia Lisovskaya as “A pianist with a special poetic gift”.
Recent seasons have also included Sophia’s concert to open the London Festival Orchestra’s “Virtuoso Pianists” concerto series (performing Schumann’s piano concerto), her return to tour Russia giving several performances with the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra under their music director maestro Katz for their 50th Year Jubilee Concert, and at a Gala Concert in Latvia Sophia performed Shostakovich’s 2nd Piano Concerto. Sophia also gave debut recitals in both Milan (in the prestigious Sala Verdi for the Società dei Concerti) and Moscow, and returned to Sweden for an extended recital tour. Sophia continues to expand her UK audiences with recitals up and down the country and to perform all around the world, for example with the Queensland Orchestra in Australia. Closer to home, Sophia’s forthcoming recital engagements include St. John’s Smith Square and her return to St. James’ Piccadilly, here in London.
Since performing with her father during her childhood, Sophia has enjoyed collaborating with other artists and is especially fond of accompanying singers. Earlier in her career, Sophia’s involvement in chamber music took her to many festivals including the Bregenz Festival, the Josseff Otten Festival, and the Ascona Music Festival. More recently she performed in Moscow’s first Schubertiade at the new “Music House” concert hall in Moscow with Russia’s leading chamber musicians.
If you would like us to supply you with an Acrobat Reader PDF file of this artist’s biography and reviews, please send your request to info@tashmina.co.uk , indicating the artist’s name.