Reviews of Svetlana Smolina
*** 2026 ***
CBA24N, Córdoba, Argentina
“Franz Liszt found an ideal interpreter in Svetlana Smolina.”
“Absolute mastery of phrasing and dynamics…”
“An evening of high artistic achievement… reaffirming the power of the great piano repertoire to move and dazzle when entrusted to an interpreter of such caliber.”
“A memorable performance… a top-tier program.”
“A restrained yet magnetic personality… a broad and nuanced sound, capable of moving from the most intimate delicacy to dazzling virtuosity.”
“Remarkable balance of energy and elegance.”
“One of the most celebrated moments of the evening.” (on Smolina’s interpretation of Ginastera’s Danzas Argentinas)
“A surprising affinity with the rhythmic and expressive language of the Argentine composer.”
“Classical elegance with a natural swing.” (on Gershwin)
“The display of virtuosity elicited spontaneous applause.”
“As spectacular as it was challenging.” (on Balakirev’s Islamey)
“An electrifying and precise performance.”
“The audience rose to its feet for a prolonged and enthusiastic standing ovation.”
“Smolina is a genius as an interpreter.”
“Her interpretation transforms these great Romantic masterpieces into something strikingly alive and contemporary.”
“Smolina brought to Córdoba the joy of Romanticism.”
“Smolina is an excellent pianist… it is hard to believe how much music she carries within her.”
“She traverses some of the most intricate passages in the piano literature with calm in speed and expressive strength in moments of stillness.”
“Smolina is graceful, engaging… a pianist of remarkable artistry.”
“No one left their seat while Smolina was playing—but everyone listened as though the music invited them to dance.”
“The program itself speaks volumes—a musical journey through Romanticism, national traditions, and popular imagination.”
“From Russia to the Americas and back again—a compelling artistic voyage.”
“The recital united Romantic virtuosity with a vibrant popular sensibility.”
Source: Svetlana Smolina deslumbró en la apertura del ciclo de la Fundación ProArte Córdoba
Rachmaninoff Festival
Georgia Today – Ivan Nechaev
“Svetlana Smolina was grand in Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42.”
“Her clarity and expressive depth highlighted her ability to instill a strong sense of musicality and technical control.”
“In a magnificent finale, Svetlana Smolina and Vakhtang Kodanashvili delivered Suite No. 2, Op. 17 with technical precision and interpretative insight.”
“Their performance highlighted an exceptional emphasis on collaborative musicianship and detailed interpretation.”
-Ivan Nechaev, Georgia Today
Inga Mayorova, Classical Music News
TSAF 2025 Chamber and Samara Philharmonic Concert with Vadim Repin, Alexander Ramm, Olga Volkova
“Svetlana carried the piano part through this exceptionally demanding program like Ariadne’s thread—firmly, reliably, and with commanding authority.”
Thoughtfully shaped phrases, precise articulation, effortless exchanges of musical ideas, and an airy, perfectly unified ensemble.” (in Beethoven Triple Concerto) _
Throughout the entire evening, the extraordinarily beautiful Svetlana Smolina never left the piano. She carried the piano part through this exceptionally demanding program like Ariadne’s thread—firmly, reliably, and with commanding authority.”
What truly stood out was the artistic vision behind the program itself… the program became a map, guiding and leading the audience.. Like an actor’s costume, it was brought to life through artistic presence. ( Brahms Quintet, Haydn Trio, Bartok Violin Rhapsodies, Tchaikovsky Cello Pieces )
“Two queens, like in Through the Looking-Glass, competed for artistic leadership within the ensemble.” (describing Smolina and violinist Olga Volkova)
“The trio swept through the Allegro, elegant Minuet, and exhilarating Rondo at a breathtaking pace.” ( in Haydn trio)
“The audience rushed into intermission overwhelmed by great art, inspired and exhilarated.”
-Inga Mayorova, Classical Music News
https://www.classicalmusicnews.ru/reports/dont-be-sad-samara-it-will-be-back
Lee Howard, The Day (USA) / Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Toshiyuki Shimada
“The highlight of the evening had to be Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, featuring the smoking hot playing of pianist Svetlana Smolina…”
“…who came out on stage in a glittering red gown so beguiling that the audience chuckled when she sat in front of the keys.”
“Never letting her concentration waver, Smolina proceeded to pounce on each note with either great ferocity or eager tenderness…”
“…majestically alternating between a clump of chords and a cascade of shimmering, harp-like high notes.”
“Smolina alternately marched and gambled up and down the keys right up until the humorous and unexpected ending.”
“This Rhapsody is a real showpiece, and the execution of the work was exquisite.”
“The audience gave Smolina and the orchestra one of the most extended standing ovations ever during an ECSO concert.”
– Lee Howard, The Day (USA)
iPalpiti Orchestra at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles Times (USA) -Mark Swed
“Svetlana Smolina, an outstanding Russian pianist with a luxuriant tone, was the evening’s soloist.”
“She caught both the flicker of the young sun-god and found urgency in the flashy solo part.”
-Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times (USA)
Chopin Spectacular Lives Up to Its Title
Sarasota Herald-Tribune (USA) – Gayle Williams Richard Storm
“Smolina displayed full command and charmed her way through the Preludes of Op. 28…”
“Playing with vigor and vitality, easily shifting from one mood to another, sure of technique and subtle phrasing.”
“The pianist produced dazzling effects entirely appropriate to the genre…”
“Smolina brought the audience close to frenzy, just as dear Fryderyk did in his concerts.”
– Gayle Williams Richard Storm, Sarasota Herald-Tribune (USA)
Scriabin’s Fantasy in B Minor
The New York Times (USA) – Paul Griffiths
“Svetlana Smolina created a storming, breathing piano in Scriabin’s Fantasy in B Minor.”
— Paul Griffiths, The New York Times (USA)
Stravinsky’s Les Noces
The New York Times (USA)- Anthony Tommasini
“The performance had plenty of fervor and clattering colors. Yet it was nuanced, dusky, and organic.”
“The soloists—dynamic pianist Svetlana Smolina was mesmerizing.”
-Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times (USA)
Recital Review
International Herald Tribune – Davis Stevens
“Svetlana Smolina sparkled with the Italian Concerto, the E-minor Toccata, and a Prelude and Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier.”
-Davis Stevens, International Herald Tribune
London, Covent Garden Magazine (UK) – Graham Watts
“The pianist, Svetlana Smolina, thoroughly deserved the audience’s unrestrained praise.”
-Graham Watts, Covent Garden Magazine (UK)
NY Steinway Recital, Steinway Hall, New York– Roberta on the Arts (USA)
“Tonight’s Steinway Hall concert was poignant and awe-inspiring.”
“The Schumann-Liszt Widmung immediately showcased Ms. Smolina’s virtuosity and aplomb.”
“She tore into the keyboard with confidence and poise.”
“Islamey by Balakirev was approached with thrilling keyboard attacks.”
“It was the Strauss/Schulz-Evler Concert Arabesque on On the Beautiful Blue Danube that brought the crowd to its feet.”
“The strains of the Blue Danube Waltz emanated with liquid languor and luscious luminosity.”
“Ms. Smolina sparked the imagination with the magic of this Concert Arabesque.”
“Ms. Smolina once again introduced swirling, dreamlike musicality on the sumptuous Steinway.”
“…matched the first-class virtuosity of Ms. Smolina on the Steinway.”
-Roberta on the Arts (USA)
“The Listener Magazine”, New York –Patrick Meanor
“Svetlana Smolina performed Prokofiev’s First and Ninth Sonatas flawlessly.”
“She played these very challenging works with a facility and mastery that highlighted her impeccable technique and clarity of vision.”
“The following evening, she performed one of Mikhail Pletnev’s phenomenally difficult arrangements from The Nutcracker Suite.”
“Had I been in the other room, I might very well have mistaken it for Pletnev himself—it was so romantically rendered.”
“The next evening, Svetlana Smolina performed Stravinsky’s Four Etudes, Op. 7, with a maturity and confidence that made these difficult pieces sparkle with youthful vitality.”
-Patrick Meanor, The Listener Magazine (USA)
International Herald Tribune” Rachmaninoff Festival –Davis Stevens
“Other highlights of this marathon included the Corelli Variations, with Smolina as the superb soloist.”
The two suites were brilliantly displayed by Svetlana Smolina.”
Davis Stevens, International Herald Tribune
Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3– The Flint Journal (USA)
“Svetlana Smolina played with astonishing dynamism and skill.”
“Her rendition of the wildly difficult cadenza of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 was most impressive.”
–The Flint Journal (USA)
Pianist Shows Stravinsky’s Charm”
Los Angeles Times (USA) – Daniel Cariaga
“Smolina’s defining of the lyrical aspects in the music she played made her performance cherishable.”
-Daniel Cariaga, Los Angeles Times (USA)
Teatro Lirico di Cagliari
L’Unione Sarda (Italy), Fabio Marcello “Vadim Repin, what a premium class!” The Concert with pianist Svetlana Smolina at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari”
“The surprise of the evening was the pianist Svetlana Smolina.”
“Statuesque in her long, fiery-red dress…”
“Thanks to an excellent control of dynamics and timbre, Smolina found the perfect musical rapport with Vadim Repin.”
“From her singing tone, Repin himself seemed to gain mellifluousness and freshness.”
“The pianist from Novgorod was never overshadowed by the charismatic personality of her illustrious colleague.”
“She demonstrated a consolidated artistic maturity.”
“The two artists rewarded the audience’s enthusiasm with two elegant and warmly applauded encores from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.”
– L’Unione Sarda (Italy), Fabio Marcello
“Vadim Repin Tears It Up at Koerner Hall”
Toronto Performing Arts Examiner (Canada)-Recital with Vadim Repin
Koerner Hall, The Royal Conservatory
“Svetlana Smolina on the piano more than held her own while presenting a contrasting style that was every bit as pleasing to watch.”
“There was an authenticity to Ravel’s Tzigane that both Repin and Smolina provided, along with a vivacious energy that made it difficult to resist tapping your foot to.”
“During the second half there was a palpable connection between Repin and Smolina that suggested the two have been playing together longer than they have.”
“They fed off each other beautifully, with one nodding for the other to begin and the synchronicity between them simply flawless.”
“Their performance of Tchaikovsky’s Meditation and Valse-Scherzo embodied everything characteristic of the composer’s music: there was a larger-than-life aspect to it with bold brush strokes, yet beneath the grandiosity lay unrevealed secrets.”
“Both Repin and Smolina glided over the passages easily, disguising the inherent difficulty in Tchaikovsky’s music.”
“They made Stravinsky’s Divertimento look just as easy to play.”
“There’s a flow and charm to this ballet suite that is not present in many of Stravinsky’s other works.”
–Toronto Performing Arts Examiner (Canada)
“Pianist Brings Audience to Its Feet”
The Elkhart Truth (USA) – Marcia Fulmer
“It was the artistry of Svetlana Smolina that brought the audience to its feet.”
“Mrs. Smolina was in complete control of the emotionally lyrical, technically intimidating work.”
“Mrs. Smolina’s incredibly fluid—and incredibly strong—fingers invested each change of mood and movement with exactly the right texture, depth, and sense of being.”
“In Svetlana Smolina, Rachmaninoff’s Third found a perfect match.”
“She was phenomenal!”
-Marcia Fulmer, The Elkhart Truth (USA)
“Repin Launches the Cartagena Festival”
El Espectador (Colombia) – Manuel Drezner (Recital with Vadim Repin
Teatro Colón, Bogotá, Colombia
“With a recital at the Colón Theater, violinist Vadim Repin, accompanied by Svetlana Smolina, launched the next Cartagena Music Festival…”
“Smolina was up to the task and equally contributed to the recital being of a great musical category.”
“The program was excellent, presenting three important sonatas that are rarely heard together… We also heard Ravel’s virtuosic Tzigane, which drew the greatest applause from the audience, who were so enthusiastic that they even applauded at the end of the second movement of Franck’s Sonata.”
– Manuel Drezner, El Espectador (Colombia)
“Marvelous Image, Iron Will”
Nizhny Novgorod Times – Ludmila Patiaeva
“The image of a young lady immediately disappeared the moment Svetlana touched the keys.”
“In the Griffes Sonata, the harsh pressure of the nervous motives alternated with moments of silence; madness and hope competed with one another for the right to exist.”
“The romantic contrasts, the falls and rises, were especially impressive in Chopin’s Études and Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz.”
“The success of the entire concert was obvious: Svetlana Smolina presented herself as an artist of the highest rank.”
-Ludmila Patiaeva, Nizhny Novgorod Times
“Zapolyarnaya Pravda” TSAF 2019
“My partners, Svetlana and Alexander, are a constellation of musicians who love performing together.” Vadim Repin
“The concert of the stars, who gave an unforgettable performance of works by the great Romantic composers, inspired the Norilsk audience, who called it ‘a true miracle.”
“The unique Trans-Siberian Art Festival concert took place before a packed audience in the city’s concert hall, which was packed to capacity”
“The star guests included Vadim Repin, performing on his Stradivarius violin, together with his outstanding colleagues—cellist Alexander Knyazev and pianist Svetlana Smolina.”
” The remarkable pianist Svetlana Smolina, who performs on the world’s leading concert stages, shared her impressions following the masterclasses. She noted the good level of training of novice musicians in Norilsk”
“Zapolyarnaya Pravda” TSAF 2019
https://gazetazp.ru/news/gorod/11128-kontsertyi-repina.html
New York Magazine (USA) -Recital with Bela Horvath
“Ms. Smolina has excellent technique.”
“She makes astute artistic choices.”
“Playing with a very relaxed and stable arm…”
“She is a stunning showperson, dressing in an elegant gown like Marlene Dietrich’s.”
“The pair work very well together and make beautiful music.”
–New York Magazine (USA)
“Music at Monica’s”
Local Arts Live (USA) – Sharon Torello
“The audience gave her a rousing standing ovation.”
“It wasn’t one of those slowly rising, ‘I guess I should stand because everyone else is’ ovations.”
“It was a genuine expression of appreciation to a supremely talented musician.”
“Smolina somehow managed to maintain solid melodic clarity through even the most finger-blurring passages.”
“Smolina selected a program containing so many rapid passages that I’m quite sure I’ve never heard that many notes played on a piano in one concert before.”
“Her fiery performance was beautifully highlighted by the wonderfully balanced and lively acoustics of Saint Monica’s sanctuary and a brand-new Steinway piano.”
-Sharon Torello, Local Arts Live (USA)
“Repin Launches the Cartagena Festival”
El Espectador (Colombia) – Manuel Drezner (Recital with Vadim Repin
Teatro Colón, Bogotá, Colombia
“With a recital at the Colón Theater, violinist Vadim Repin, accompanied by Svetlana Smolina, launched the next Cartagena Music Festival…”
“Smolina was up to the task and equally contributed to the recital being of a great musical category.”
“The program was excellent, presenting three important sonatas that are rarely heard together… We also heard Ravel’s virtuosic Tzigane, which drew the greatest applause from the audience, who were so enthusiastic that they even applauded at the end of the second movement of Franck’s Sonata.”
– Manuel Drezner, El Espectador (Colombia)
“Eye Contacts Are Enough for Communication”
Ruhr Klavier Festival
Ruhr Nachrichten (Germany)–Martin Schrahn
“Smolina and Mogilevsky impress as a coordinated duo in the best way -eye contact alone is enough for communication.”
“Amazing in all respects, their playing has expressive strength and a remarkable sense of tonal color.”
-Martin Schrahn, Ruhr Nachrichten (Germany)
Stravinsky Recital
The Independent (London, UK) –Laurence Hughes
“The Four Etudes, Op. 7, were played with alternating deftness and thoughtfulness by Svetlana Smolina.”
“In the excerpts from The Firebird, Svetlana showed an energy and fire that were almost startling in so slight a frame.”
“…the hushed intensity of those radiant chords leading into the final flourish.”
“If Svetlana Smolina can be said to represent the future of Russian music, then surely we have nothing to fear for the great musical tradition of that remarkable country.”
-Laurence Hughes, The Independent (London, UK)
Ruhr Klavier Festival
Jahrhunderthalle, Bochum, Germany
Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany) -Anja Renczikowski
“The culmination of the evening was the performance of Poème de l’Extase, Op. 54, for two pianos, and Prometheus, Op. 60, for three pianos…”
“Interpreted by Alexander Toradze with Svetlana Smolina and Maxim Mogilevsky—an acoustical and visual sea of flames.”
“…the performance came very near to the composer’s messianic vision.”
-Anja Renczikowski, Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany)
Opening Concert
International Herald Tribune –David Stevens
“Svetlana Smolina and Maxim Mogilevsky collaborated handsomely on the Concerto for Two Pianos, bringing the opening session to a memorable close.”
-David Stevens, International Herald Tribune
Rachmaninoff Festival
Financial Times (UK) -Andrew Clark
“In the hands of Svetlana Smolina and Maxim Mogilevsky, Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos provided a formidable climax.”
-Andrew Clark, Financial Times (UK)
Festival Review
The Herald (Scotland) -Michael Tumelty
“Apparently demure and rather poetic, Svetlana Smolina showed her teeth and muscles in a huge performance of one of the most interesting works of the long afternoon.”
-Michael Tumelty, The Herald (Scotland)
“Grand Result on Steinway”
The Star-Ledger (New Jersey, USA) -Peter Wynne
“Svetlana Smolina dazzled all with her performances of Piano Sonata in G Major and Eugene Onegin for two pianos.”
“With two powerhouse players and two grand Steinways on stage, the sound could be overwhelming- but it provided more than a hint of power.”
“Watching the two perform was a delight.”
“The Piano Sonata in G Major, nearly 35 minutes in length, requires a performer with power to spare.”
“Smolina was up to the challenge, pouring massive waves of sound over her listeners in the work’s many dramatic moments.”
“Yet she was equally capable of matching the composer’s more intimate thoughts.”
-Peter Wynne, The Star-Ledger (New Jersey, USA)
Album Review/ Warner Musis :
“Rachmaninoff En Ritmo: A Classical-to-Latin Jazz Crossover”
All About Jazz Magazine
“A high-art collision—an exploration of how two musical languages can clash, flirt, provoke, and ultimately transform each other.”
“One grand piano is played by internationally renowned pianist Svetlana Smolina, steeped in the brooding, expansive world of late-Romantic Russian virtuosity.”
“The tension between the two pianists is delicious: rubato vs. clave, romantic melancholy vs. tropical exuberance.”
“When Svetlana Smolina plays Rachmaninoff, she’s thinking in rubato and long melodic arcs.”
“The project is a high-art collision in which two musical languages clash, flirt, provoke, and ultimately transform each other.”
“‘Rachmaninoff en Ritmo’ is not fusion—it’s a dramatic dialogue in which each piano defends its identity while exchanging ideas through the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff.” — All About Jazz