Valentina Lisitsa's Albert Hall debut

Proving that musical internet sensations aren’t limited to just the worlds of pop and rock’n’roll, Ukrainian virtuoso pianist Valentina Lisitsa is set to play the Royal Albert Hall after her YouTube videos racked up an incredible 44 million views.

Her sensational online performances have included Beethoven, Schubert and Rachmaninov. 

A prodigious and precocious talent, Lisitsa started playing piano at the age of three and she performed her first solo recital just a year later. Until recently, the 39-year-old had been self-managed but has now been signed by Decca. 

Her concert at the Royal Albert Hall on June 19 will be recorded and released initially as digital download. This will then be followed by a CD release. The concert will also be streamed live on YouTube. 

Lisitsa, a graduate of the Kiev Conservatory said: “I could not have done this without all my online fans around the world. Now I want to say thank you and give them a great concert live and online. There’s a lady from Barbados coming, and even people from New Zealand.” 

Jasper Hope, Chief Operating Officer of the Royal Albert Hall, added: “Valentina is a force of nature and an extraordinary talent. I don’t know anybody else who has done this before.” 

In keeping with her online flavour, Lisitsa’s fans can vote online to determine her setlist for the Royal Albert Hall gig.