Irina Lankova is a renowned classical pianist who has captivated audiences around the world with her virtuosic performances and deep musicality. Born in Moscow in 1977, Lankova began playing the piano at the age of five and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. She studied at the Moscow Conservatory with renowned pianist and pedagogue Vera Gornostaeva, and later at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels with Abdel Rahman El Bacha. Lankova's career as a concert pianist began to take off in the early 2000s, when she won several prestigious international competitions, including the Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona and the International Piano Competition in Senigallia, Italy. These victories brought her to the attention of music critics and concert promoters, and she soon began to receive invitations to perform at major concert halls and festivals around the world. One of Lankova's most notable performances took place in 2006, when she played a solo recital at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The program included works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff, and Lankova's sensitive and nuanced interpretations earned her a standing ovation from the audience. The concert was recorded and released on CD, and it quickly became a bestseller, cementing Lankova's reputation as one of the most exciting young pianists of her generation. In addition to her solo performances, Lankova has also collaborated with many of the world's leading orchestras and conductors. She has played with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Brussels Philharmonic, the Royal Flemish Philharmonic, and the National Orchestra of Belgium, among others. Some of her most memorable collaborations include performances of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Moscow Philharmonic and Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Brussels Philharmonic. Lankova's repertoire is wide-ranging and includes works from the Baroque era to the present day. She is particularly known for her interpretations of the music of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Scriabin, and has recorded several albums devoted to their works. Her recording of Chopin's complete Nocturnes, released in 2010, was widely praised for its poetic and lyrical playing, and was named one of the best classical recordings of the year by several publications. In addition to her performing career, Lankova is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. She has taught masterclasses at the Moscow Conservatory, the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, and has served as a jury member for several international piano competitions. She is passionate about passing on her knowledge and experience to the next generation of musicians, and is known for her warm and supportive teaching style. Throughout her career, Lankova has received numerous awards and accolades for her playing. In addition to her competition victories, she has been awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, and has received the Order of Friendship from the Russian government for her contributions to the arts. She has also been named a Steinway Artist, an honor reserved for the world's most distinguished pianists. Despite her many accomplishments, Lankova remains humble and dedicated to her craft. She continues to perform regularly around the world, and is always seeking new ways to deepen her understanding of the music she loves.

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