Stunningly talented Svetlana Smolina is a highly sought-after world-renowned classical pianist who has performed, recorded, and collaborated with many famous musicians in numerous major world music centers.
Described by LA Times as “an outstanding pianist with luxuriant tone,” and by New York Times as "mesmerizing and dynamic", Svetlana has won several prestigious international competitions and is among “The Best Pianists of the 21st Century”.
"Simply flawless" (Toronto Performing Arts Examiner)
Svetlana Smolina
Videos
Quotes
“You are such a remarkable talent! Your skillful performance and personal rapport with our audience today was ‘off the charts.’ Everyone was blown-away by your skills… with every single selection in your dramatic program… with your unimaginable power and command… with your charming engagement with the audience… and with your awe-inspiring performance. I can’t thank you enough for bringing your world class talents to our little rural community of Fallbrook. You gave each and every one of us a once-in-a-lifetime experience this afternoon - one to truly to be remembered.” Judy Siodmak, Fallbrook Music Society
“Svetlana is an extraordinary pianist. I brought a guest to this concert who has had advanced piano studies at some of the same schools that Svetlana attended. We both marveled at her enormous physical and technical capacity, artistic expression in her performance. Our Chickering piano is a rare vintage piano with a more powerful bass section. Svetlana was the pianist that brought out the full potential of this piano’s sound during my tenure with the Lompoc Concert Association. Such passion combined with precision and musical expression. - A very memorable concert!” Larry Li, President, Lompoc Concert Association
"Mesmerizing and dynamic" New York Times
"Outstanding pianist with luxuriant tone." LA Times
"Simply flawless." Toronto Performing Arts Examiner
"She gets the most extended standing ovations ever during the season concerts." The Day
" First class virtuosity. " Steinway Hall NYC, Classical &Cultural
"Producing dazzling effects, bringing audience close to frenzy." Herald Tribune
“Smolina displayed full command and charmed her way through Preludes of op. 28… Playing with vigor and vitality, easily shifting from one mood to another, sure of technique and subtle phrasing. She produced dazzling effects…Smolina brought audience close to frenzy.” Gayle Williams, Richard Storm, Sarasota Herald Tribune
“Svetlana Smolina created a storming, breathing piano in Scriabin’s Fantasy in B minor...”
New York Times, Paul Griffiths
"Smolina played with alternating deftness and thoughtfulness ... In the excerpts from The Firebird, Svetlana showed an energy and fire that were almost startling in so slight a frame." Independent, the London, Laurence Hughes
Photos
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Programs
Favorite Encores
P.I. Tchaikovsky- M. Pletnev " Concert Suite from the ballet “ Nutcracker”
F. Chopin “Heroic” Polonaise in A Flat Major Op. 53
F. Chopin Valse Brilliante in E Flat Major Op. 18
F. Chopin Grande Valse in A flat Major Op. 42
G. Gershwin - E.Wild Virtuoso Etudes
The Man I love
Embracable You
I Got Rhythm
A. Piazolla Libertango
J. Williams Tango Por Una Cabeza from “ Scent of a Woman”
----------------- Intermission ----------------
F. Liszt Concert Paraphrase from Verdi “ Rigoletto” S. 434
OR F. Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 or No 6
F. Liszt Grand Etude de Paganini No. 6 in A- minor
OR F. Liszt Concert Etude “Gnomenreigen"
J.Strauss – A. Schultz- Evler Concert Arabesques on “The Beautiful Blue Danube”
W. Bolcom Ragtime “ Serpent Kiss” Ragtime from “ The Garden of Eden”
F. Kreisler S. Rachmaninoff “Liebesleid “ Love Sorrow”
F. Kreiler -S. Rachmaninoff “Liebesfreud “ Love ‘s Joy
G.Bizet- V. Horowitz Carmen Variations
The Greatest Romantics
Audience favorites from the greatest masters: Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Strauss, Balakirev, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Bizet.
F.Schubert- F.Liszt “ Der Muller und der Bach “
R.Schumann- F.Liszt “ Widmung”
F.Liszt Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat Major
F.Chopin Scherzo No. 2
Or
Ballade No. 1 in G minor Op. 23
F.Chopin Selection from Waltzes (Op. 64 & Grand Waltz Brilliante Op 18
& Grand Valse Op. 42 in A flat major)
--------------- Intermission ---------------
F.Liszt Consolation in D Flat Major No 3
F.Liszt Mephisto Waltz No. 1
or
Ch.Gounod- F.Liszt “Waltz from the Opera Faust”
M.Moszkowsky Caprice Epagnole Op. 37
J.Strauss Concert Paraphrase “On the beautiful Blue Danube “
Or
M.Balakirev “Islamey” Oriental Fantasy
V.Horowitz-G.Bizet “Carmen Variations”
Music of the Heart
R.Schumann Arabesque in C major
R.Schumann – F.Liszt “Widmung “
F.Liszt Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat Major
F.Chopin Ballade No. 1
Or
F.Chopin Scherzo No.2
Or
F.Liszt Apres une lecture du Dante/Fantasia Quasi Sonata
--------------- Intermission -----------------
S.Rachmaninoff Selections from Preludes Op 23 & 32
Or
P.I.Tchaikovsky – M.Pletnev “Concert Suite from the Ballet “Nutcracker “
Or
P.I.Tchaikovsky Selections from “The Seasons “Op. 37a
S.Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 2 Op. 36 in B flat minor
Bio
Works by Gershwin, Earl Wild, Strauss, Bizet, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Bolcom
P.I.Tchaikovsky Concert Suite from the Ballet “Nutcracker"
F.Chopin Scherzo No. 2
Or
F.Chopin Ballade No 1 Op. 23
F.Chopin Selections from Waltzes or Preludes
J.Strauss Concert Paraphrase “On the beautiful Blue Danube “
------------------- Intermission ------------------
G.Geshwin Three Preludes
Or
S.Rachmaninoff/ P.I.Tchaikovsky- Earl Wild Transcriptions
G.Gershwin- Earl Wild Selections from Virtuoso Etudes based on G. Gershwin Songs
W.Bolcom The Serpent's Kiss (from "The Garden of Eden")
F.Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 or Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Or
G.Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
V.Horowitz- G.Bizet “Carmen Variations”
Dances, Lieders & Transcription Delights
F.Schubert Intermezzo D 946 in E flat major
Or
Impromptu in B flat Major Op. 142 No 3 in B flat Major & Impromptu in G flat
Major & E flat Major Op. 90 No. 3 & 2
Or
J.Brahms Intermezzi
F.Schubert – F.Liszt Lieder Transcriptions
Or
F.Chopin Scherzo or Waltzes
F.Liszt Liebestraum in A Flat Major No 3
F.Liszt- Gounod “ Waltz from Faust “
Or
F.Liszt Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Or
F.Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
-----------------Intermission -----------------
P.I.Tchaikovsky Concert Suite from the Ballet “Nutcracker
S.Rachmaninoff- Earl Wild Transcription
S.Rachmaninoff Polka de W.R
Or
S.Rachmaninoff – F.Kreisler “Liebeslied”
M.Moszkowsky Caprice Espagnol Op 37
Or
A.Ginastera Argentinian Dances Op. 2
J.Strauss Concert Paraphrase “On the beautiful Blue Danube “
Or
M.Balakirev “Islamey “
W.Bolcom The Serpent's Kiss (from "The Garden of Eden")
V.Horowitz-G.Bizet “Carmen Variations”
All Time Favorites in one evening
Let’s Fall in Love
Works by Liszt, Schubert, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Tchaikovsky
F.Schubert –F.Liszt Lieder transcriptions
Or
F.Schubert Selections from “Intermezzi and Impromptus”
Or
F.Chopin Ballade No. 1 or Scherzo No.2
F.Liszt Liebestraum No 3 in A flat Major
Or
F.Chopin Selection from Waltzes
F.Liszt Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Or
F.Liszt- Ch.Gounod Waltz from “Faust “
Or
F. Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No 2
------------- Intermission --------------------
S.Rachmaninoff Selections from Preludes Op 23 & 32
Or
P.I.Tchaikovsky – Pletnev Concert Suite from the Ballet “Nutcracker “
Or
P.I.Tchaikovsky Selected numbers from “The Seasons “Op 37a
Or
Cl.Debussy Selections from “Images “and “Preludes “
S.Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 2 Op. 36 in B flat minor
19 - 20th centuries Favorite Classics
Biography
SVETLANA SMOLINA performed with orchestras and in recitals worldwide. A recipient of “New Names” scholarship program, her notable appearances with orchestras include Mariinsky Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Orchestra National de France, Dublin Philharmonic, South Florida Symphony, Odessa and Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, New Florida Philharmonic, Shreveport Symphony, New York Chamber. A frequent guest at festivals worldwide, Ms. Smolina has performed at the Salzburg Festival, Hollywood Bowl, Ravinia Rising Stars, White Nights, Maggio Musicale, Mikkeli, Ruhr, Moscow Easter, Rotterdam Phillips Gergiev, International Gilmore, Settimane Musicali di Stresa, Michelangeli, Hennessy Artists Series at Hanoi Opera House, The Voice of Music in Upper Galilee, in Royal Covent Garden Opera, Mariinsky 3 Concert Hall, Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory, Mozarteum, Merkin Hall, Kravis Center, NJPAC, Yellow Lounge Berlin, Gulbenkian Foundation, Grand Artists Series in Tel-Aviv, Academia Santa Cecilia in Rome, Corfu Festival in Greece, New Names and D. Sakharov Festival in Russia.
Recent recordings include Stravinsky’s Igor Stravinsky Les noces (Valery Gergiev, conductor on Decca/Phillips and on Mariinsky Label which received ICMA award), a recording of solo Chopin Album for the Chopin iTunes Project, Benjamin Britten Young Apollo live recording from Walt Disney Hall for BCM+D record, Scriabin CD on Pentatone Oxingale Records and many broadcasts for NPR, WQXR New York, BBC, PBS, RAI, Kultura TV and other networks.
In the summer of 2011 Svetlana joined iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates in Los Angeles, making her debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall with iPalpiti Orchestra (Eduard Schmieder, conductor). Since 2011 Svetlana is a Director of the piano programs at Philadelphia International Music Festival. In 2014 Svetlana won “Live on Stage” live showcases and was chosen as their only Classical Pianist Artist for 2015-16 season.
In 2014-15 Vadim Repin gave a series of concerts /presentation with Svetlana at the residences of Ambassador of Russia in Washington DC and in London UK for Maestro Repin’s Trans -Siberian Art Festival. Their recital in March 2015 in Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada received an astonishing critical acclaim. In July 2015 they performed a recital as part of "2015 – Russian Year in Monaco Shining Stars of Russia” concert series in the Salle Garnier, Monte-Carlo Opera for Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
In 2015-16 season Svetlana opened the season with Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional Juvenil in Lima, Peru, and was chosen as the soloist on the New Year tour to China with Dublin Philharmonic/ Maestro Derek Gleeson performing Rachmaninoff Concerto throughout in 7 cities including Suzhou Grand Theater, Harbin New Opera House and Harbin Concert Hall, Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall, Tianjin Grand Theater and in Changsha opening its new Concert Hall.
Highlights of 2016-2017 include performances and recordings at the inauguration year/ opening of Tippet Rise Festival in Montana together with Christopher O’ Riley with released CD on Pentatone Oxingale Records, duo recitals with Vadim Repin at Cartagena Music Festival in Teatro Colon, Bogota for “2017 Columbia- France Year”, in Bangalore, Mumbai India for XXV Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, at Teatro Lirico di Cagliari in Sardinia, Italy; Carnegie Hall recital with Lee-Chin Siow, concert at Sentosa World Theater in Singapore concert for International Women Day/Chinese Chamber of Commerce, masterclasses in Singapore at NAFA, tour with South Florida Symphony/Maestra Sebrina Alfonso in Florida and a recital in Buenos Aires, Argentina at CCK Symphony Hall for “The Best Pianists of the 21st Century “series”.
In the Spring of 2018 Svetlana played at the opening night of Navrasa Duende Global Carnival with Dublin Philharmonic on Nehru Stadium/ New Delhi; performed a duo recital at Basel Stadtcasino, Switzerland with Charlie Siem, made her debuts with Missouri Symphony /Maestro Kirk Trevor, Eastern Connecticut Symphony with Maestro Toshi Shimada, gave masterclasses/ workshops and a concert tour in China for Winplus International.
Invitations for 2019 included a debut at Lake Tahoe Festival with Maestro Joel Revzen , orchestra and solo debut at the Ushuaia, Festival Argentina, a chamber concert at VI Trans-Siberian Arts Festival with Vadim Repin and Alexander Kniazev, recitals in Sarasota for Chopin project, solo recital and recordings in Bangalore, India with Dr. Subramaniam for Sree Rama Seva Mandali Festival; an orchestra recording of Beethoven Double Concerto with Maestro Derek Gleeson and Pavel Sporcl at Bulgarian National Radio in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Most recent engagements included debut with Maestro Daniel Boothe and Symphonicity at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach, performances with Maestro Evgeny Bushkov and Belarusian State Chamber Orchestra, with Maestro Vladimir Plaksin and Dmitry Stoyanov with Nizhny Novgorod Soloists Chamber Orchestra, recitals for the Hemet Concert Association, Ca, Wolfeboro Friends of Music, MA, duo recitals in with Roberto Cani and Evgeny Tonkha in USA and at the Cremona International Festival/Italy; concert at the Primate’s Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia with Eva Virsik, recital in Megaron Chamber Hall in Athens for the Piano Plus Festival, the closing of the season concerts for IX Trans- Siberian Art Festival with Vadim Repin and Narek Hakhnazaryan and for South Florida Symphony 25 th Season Anniversary at the Parker Playhouse/Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Upcoming invitations include a recital tour in Brazil in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Burgos Festival in Spain with Schmuel Magen, Pasha Tseitlin, and Linda Veleckis Nussbaum, a tour in China including duet concerts with Vadim Repin at NCPA/ Beijin, at Shanghai Concert hall, in Xiamen at the Banlam Grand Theater, in Schenzen and in many other cities with Dublin Philharminic/ Maestro Derek Gleeson/ Pavel Sporcl, violin as well as recitals at the Prizery in South Boston, at the Lompoc Concert Association, at the Friends of Music/ Fripps Island, and at the Triumph Music Festival at the Kimmel Center Music Academy in Philadelphia.
Svetlana is a Grand Prix Winner of Citta Di Senigallia International Piano Competition, Kingsville Piano Competition, William Byrd Young Artists Piano Competition and a Prize Winner of Murray Dranoff International Duo Piano Competition and Shreveport Symphony Wideman Piano Competition. Mrs. Smolina studied at Indiana University with Professor Alexander Toradze, joining his famed Toradze Piano Studio; at Balakirev Music College with Natalia Fish, at Oberlin Conservatory with Monique Duphil, at Brussels Royal Conservatory with Eugeny Mogilevsky and at University of Michigan with Arthur Greene where she received her DMA.
Concerto Repertoire
J.S. Bach
Concerto in D Major BVW. 1054
Concerto in F minor BVW 1056
Concerto in D minor BVW 1052
L. V. Beethoven
Concerto No. 1 in C Major Op. 15
Concerto No. 2 in B flat major Op. 19
Triple Concerto in C Major Op. 56
William Bolcom The Serpent Kiss (from “The Garden of Eden”)
J. Brahms Concerto No. 1 in D Minor Op. 15
F. Chopin Concerto No. 1 in E Minor Op. 11
M. de Falla Nights in the Gardens of Spain
G. Gershwin Concerto in F major Rhapsody in Blue
E. Grieg Concerto in A Minor Op. 16
F. Liszt Concerto No. 1 in E Flat Major
W. Lutoslawski Variations on a theme by Paganini
F. Mendelsohn Concerto in G Minor Op.25
W.A. Mozart
Concerto in E flat Major K. 271
Concerto in A Major K. 488
Concerto in D Minor K. 466
M. Ravel Concerto in G major
S. Rachmaninoff
Concerto no. 1 in F sharp minor Op. 1
Concerto no. 2 in C minor Op. 18
Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op.43
A. Scriabin Prometheus, the Poeme of Fire
R. Schumann Concerto in A Minor Op. 54
Cl. Schumann Concerto in A minor Op. 7
D. Shostakovich
Concerto No. 1 in C minor Op. 35
Concerto No. 2 in F Major Op. 102
P. Tchaikovsky
Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor Op. 23
Concerto No. 2 in G Major Op. 44
Solo Repertoire
J.S. Bach
Selected Preludes and Fugues from Book 1 & 2
Italian Concerto
Toccata in E Minor
English Suite No. 3 in G minor BWV 808
J.S. Bach- Busoni
Choral Preludes
J.S. Bach- Siloti
Prelude in B minor
M. Balakirev
“ Islamey “ Oriental Fantasy
L. V. Beethoven
"Eroica" Variations in E flat Major op. 35
Sonata in A Major Op. 2 No. 2
Sonata in C Sharp minor Op. 27 No. 2
Sonata in F Minor Op. 57
Sonata in E Major Op. 109
Sonata in A flat Major Op. 110
J. Brahms
Ballades Op. 10
3 Fantasies Op. 116
Intermezzo Op. 117
Rhapsodies op. 72
Selected Pieces from Op. 118, 119
Waltzes Op. 19
Bizet – Horowitz
"Carmen" Variations
F. Chopin
Andante-Spianato et Grand Polonaise Brilliante in E flat Major Op. 22
Ballades No. 1 in G Minor Op. 23; No. 3 in A flat Major Op. 47
Fantasy in F minor Op. 49
Etudes
Mazurkas
Nocturnes
24 Preludes Op. 28
Polonaises
Sonata No. 3 in B minor Op. 58
Scherzo :
No.1 in B Minor Op. 20;
No 2 in B Flat Major Op. 36
No.3 in C sharp minor Op. 39
No. 4 in E major Op. 54
Waltzes
Waltzes Op. 64
Grand Valse Brilliante Op. 18
Waltz in A flat Major Op. 42
Cl. Debussy
Images Book 1 & 2
L’ Isle Joyeuse
Preludes Book 1 & 2
Pour le Piano
G. Gershwin
3 Preludes (1926)
Rhapsody in Blue
G. Gershwin - Earl Wild
Virtuoso Etudes based on G. Gershwin Songs
A. Ginastera
Danzas Argentinas Op. 2
Sonata
Ch. Griffes
Sonata 1917
N. Kapustin
Concert Etudes
F. Liszt
Concert Etudes
Transcendental Etudes
Consolation in D flat Major
Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 2, No. 12, No. 15
"Liebestraum" No. 3 in A flat Major
Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Paganini Etudes No. 2, 3, 6
Sonata Après une Lecture de Dante
2 Sonetti del Petrarca
Spanish Rhapsody
Tarantella from “Venezia e Napoli “
Verdi – Liszt Rigoletto Paraphrase
Wagner – Liszt Isolde’s Liebestod
Liszt- Gounod Paraphrase on a Waltz from “ Faust”
F. Mendelssohn
Fantasie in F sharp minor op. 28
Rondo capriccioso Op. 14
Songs Without Words
M . Moszkowsky
Caprice Espagnole Op. 37
The Sparks “Etincelles Op. 36 No. 6
V. A. Mozart
Sonata in C major, K .330
Sonata in A Major, K. 331
Sonata in F major K. 332
A. Piazzola
Tangos
S. Prokofiev
March for the Three Oranges
“Romeo and Julliet“ Suite Op. 75
Sonatas No. 1, 3, 6, 8, 9
Toccata Op. 11
Visions Fugitives Op. 22
S. Rachmaninoff
Etudes – Tableaux Op. 33, Op. 39
Lilacs
Morceaux de Fantasie Op. 3
Musical Moments Op. 16
Polka V.R
Preludes Op. 23, Op. 32
Sonata No. 1 in D minor Op. 28
Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor Op. 36
Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op. 42
Rachmaninoff – Kreisler
Liebeslied, Liebesfreud
Rachmaninoff - Earl Wild
Songs Transcription
M. Ravel
Jeux d’ Eau
La Valse
Mirroirs
Valse Nobles et Sentimentales
A. Scarlatti
Sonatas
F. Schubert
Drei Klavierstucke D. 946
3 Impromptus Op. 90
Impromptus in B Flat major Op. 142 No. 3
3 Musical Moments Op. 94
Sonata in A major D. 664
F. Schubert- F. Liszt
“Soiree de Vienne”
Songs Transcriptions
R. Schumann
Arabesque in C Major Op. 18
Fantasiestucke Op. 12
Kinderszenen Op. 15
Kreisleriana Op. 16
Carnaval Op. 9
A. Scriabin
Etudes
Feux d’ Album Op. 58
Fantasy in B Minor Op. 28
Poeme Tragique Op. 34
Poems Op. 32
Preludes
Sonatas No. 3, 4, 5
D. Shostakovich
Preludes and Fugues Op. 87 in D flat Major, F major, D minor
Sonata No. 1 Op. 12 (1926)
Three Fantastic Dances Op. 5
Strauss / Shutz- Evler
Concert Arabesque on the Blue Danube Waltz
I. Stravinsky
4 Concert Etudes Op. 7
“Firebird“ Suite
P. I. Tchaikovsky
Grand Sonata in G Major Op. 37
Meditation Op. 72 No. 5
Momento-Lirico
Romance in F minor Op. 5
“Seasons“ Op.37 Bis
Theme and Variations in F Major Op. 19 No. 6
Tchaikovsky- Pletnev
Concert Suite from the Ballet “ Nutcracker”