Playing Carnegie Hall has been a big dream for pianists since the concert hall was founded. Finally Lola Astanova got her big break at Carnegie Hall, performing before a sold-out crowd there for the first time on Thursday night.
I was lucky enough to attend the event traveling from Staten Island to the "Big Apple" for the event that benefits the American Cancer Society. According to The New York Daily News, the pianist dripping jewels worth $850,000 from Tiffany as the pianist rocked Carnegie Hall Thursday night.
In her debut performance at the classic West 57th Street concert hall, the 26-year-old Uzbekistan-born musician tickled the ivories with a va-va-voom twist, added The Daily News, “It was very emotional and overwhelming,” Astanova told the Daily News following the concert to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Astanova, now an American citizen, said she’s dreamed of playing Carnege hall since going there as a 9-year-old on her first visit to New York.
“The minute I saw that stage, I knew that I wanted to be on it,” said the diva to the Daily News. “From that day on I was dreaming of that stage.”
Her dream came true last night as she played Rachmanioff and Chopin classics at the benefit for the American Cancer Society.
The 3,000 people packing the house cheered as the leggy pianist pounded on a Steinway piano that once belong to famed Russian-American classical virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz. In addition, she drew the applause and sympathy of the crowd as she elegantly helped unattach her dress from her high heels as she exited the stage at Intermission.
Wearing jewels borrowed from Tiffany & Co., this was her only mistake as her Jimmy Choo stiletto got stuck in the hem of her black sequined Roberto Cavalli gown. She giggled and the crowd loved it, added The Daily News.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the event and hope to attend more concerts at the famous American concert hall.
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