Valentina Lisitsa Essentials

Born in the Ukraine, the U.S.-based Valentina Lisitsa is the most-viewed pianist on the web, and she has a legion of fans. Her repertoire ranges from Chopin and Rachmaninov (the piano concertos with the LSO are very exciting and reveal a formidable technique) to Philip Glass and Michael Nyman. Off the beaten track, she has recorded Charles Ives' violin sonatas with Hilary Hahn, and between these two imaginative players unveiled music of richness and depth. Lisitsa's playing offers a breath of fresh air in a world of stylised presentation and traditional attitudes to classical music.