Lissitchenko, a 19-year-old student at the renowned Moscow State Conservatory, is visiting UNC through Sunday courtesy of the Carolina Seminars program, along with conservatory professors Ludmila Roschina and Svetlana Sigida and pianist Alexei Melentiev.
In a lecture Wednesday about the history of the conservatory, Roschina, Lissitchenko's professor, spoke about her own teacher, pianist Samuel Feinberg.
"All of his pupils continue the tradition of Feinberg," Roschina said, as interpreted by Sigida. "Now he's more famous than ever before."
Despite his fame, Americans have had little exposure to Feinberg's playing style or Russian music in general, said Severine Neff, a professor of music at UNC who helped bring the musicians here.
After being invited by Carolina Seminars to come to UNC, Roschina chose Melentiev and Lissitchenko to bring Feinberg's legacy abroad. Melentiev is a seasoned professional who has toured throughout the world playing with the Bolshoi Theater. Roschina chose Lissitchenko because of her age as well as ability.
"(Roschina) felt it was important to have someone the age of the people for whom they would perform," Neff said.
Despite her age and skill, however, Lissitchenko's perspective on her career is markedly different from most forward-thinking American students.
"We never organize a plan for the future in Russia," she said, through Sigida's interpretation.
But the future looks secure for the conservatory, which has not only survived but excelled throughout Russia's stormy history since its 1866 founding.
