Valentina Lisitsa.

I don't think much comment is needed on this lady.



This is via Google translate from - www.donetsk.kp.ru/daily/27390/4584847/

The world-famous pianist Valentina Lisitsa came to Mariupol to please the citizens with her creativity. The musician played for people in the open air. Different compositions of Russian and foreign composers sounded. The song “Victory Day” became special, those gathered at the mini-concert sang along.

During the years of the armed conflict, Lisitsa became for the inhabitants of the Donetsk People's Republic - their own, dear. Valentina first came to Donetsk in 2015. Then for people her visit meant something more than just a concert of classical music. The pianist performed in the open air in the park named after Lenin Komsomol. Shortly before the start of the concert, shell explosions were heard in the background in the Kievsky district of the capital, but as soon as the music started, there was a feeling of peace and harmony.

Not insignificant was the fact that the pianist came to Donetsk at the height of her career. She risked everything - future tours, finances, life. But in spite of everything, she decided to reach the end and was not afraid to express her civil position. This eventually gave its "fruits". In several Western countries, her concerts began to be boycotted, and she was simply expelled from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Canada.

- I am a Russian pianist. I grew up in the Russian school of piano art and carry Russian culture. I'm not American when I play - there is no American accent (smiles). Rachmaninoff had American citizenship, but he was and remained Russian. If he had lived a little longer, he would have received Russian citizenship and returned home.

Valentina Lisitsa comes to the Republic almost every year, with the exception of the “coronavirus” one. Concerts were held in many cities, and probably Debaltseve can be considered the most memorable. The musician played the piano on the railway platform.

In September 2021, U.S. citizen Valentina Lisitsa received a passport of the Donetsk People's Republic. The document was personally presented to the pianist by the Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin.

With this passport, Valentina Lisitsa now crosses the border. She said that when she first went through customs control with a republican passport, she felt like a “white” person compared to her husband.

- It took me half a minute to check my documents, and he has an American passport and a Russian residence permit, which he just received. He was taken to be interrogated. Moreover, he was interrogated by the same person who had already done this last time. They remembered each other, but everything had to be printed and filled out. So I passed the border here without any problems, and the American was detained,” said Valentina.