Bach Star!

MEET PIANO VIRTUOSA LOLA ASTANOVA. HER CLASSICAL PIANO VIDEOS INCLUDING RACHMANINOFF’S THIRD, BACH, AND GERSHWIN’S RHAPSODY IN BLUE HAVE OVER 1.1 BILLION COMBINED SHARED VIEWS ON YOUTUBE!

Photographer: ANDREW MATUSIK @andrewmatusik

Stylist: COCO DIGIAIMO / cocodigiaimostylist

Hair: ROBERT STEINKEN @robertsteinkenhair / CelestineAgency.com

Makeup: UZO @u.z.o.

Nail Tech: AMBER STUDER @polishedbyamber

Makeup Assistant: LINDSAY RICHARDSON / lindsayrmua@gmail.com

Jewelry Stylist: DAVID MILLER for JEDORA

Video DP: FRANKLIN WHITLATCH

Photo Assistants: BRYANT WALTON, ISAIAH HERNANDEZ, AHNYA NAIMA

Social Media: YULISA GUNTHER

Art Director: STEPHEN KAMIFUJI @genlux

Location: THE PENINSULA BEVERLY HILLS - PRESIDENTIAL SUITE / peninsula.com

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Wearing five-inch Louboutins and barely-there dresses that reveal her alluring figure, Lola Astanova shreds through technically demanding concertos including Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, or Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue—for which she won an Emmy. In the documentary short, The Journey to the Theatre of Silence, musician and record producer David Foster lauds Lola, saying, “Her skills are insane. Her performances are always exciting. She’s an extraordinarily gifted piano player.” We caught up with the Tashkent-born beauty for our GENLUX Two-Word Interview. —Stephen Kamifuji

Your traits? I’m a perfectionist, loyal, responsible, creative, have good intuition, and stubborn.

Your sign? Cancer

Career origins? I started with my piano teacher at 6. I enjoyed it because it came naturally. I didn’t have a normal childhood, but looking back, I’m grateful piano allowed me to travel the world. When I was 9, I came to New York City with a group to tour play in the United States. I fell in love with Times Square the first time I saw it. I thought to myself, “I gotta live here!”

Childhood bullying? I got traumatized! I was teased for being too skinny, for being a nerd in school with my sheet music, for playing piano, and for not having a boyfriend. Mom, what can I eat to put on weight? Partially, I now have this glamorous persona that stems from my childhood because I wanted to be this sexy girl with tight dresses and high heels because I wasn’t that.

Self-advice? I would tell my younger self, or to kids who are bullied, to always remember it’s a small fraction of your life. It will be over fast, so don’t let it knock you down! It’s what’s going to happen later that’s really important.

Biggest misconception? I’m not high-maintenance. My Instagram is my sexier side, but I’m actually laid back and casual.

Negative comments? Most Instagram comments are positive, but some will say, “You show too much” or “Does it have to be so sexy?” I answer by saying this is just what I want to do, and I don’t feel it’s something to be ashamed of. The female body is one of the most beauti- ful creations—and arguably the most powerful instrument in the world. So it definitely makes me feel more empowered. Maybe historically, pianists don’t look like I do, but that’s okay. When I’m older, I’ll cover up. Maybe.

Favorite concert? Performing with Andrea Bocelli. He’s just a wonderful, kind, and giving person. The first concert we did was in Miami, and then he invited me to play in Tuscany at the Theater of Silence.

Performance woes? I don’t do well in a cold room.

Favorite composer? Chopin. I always come back to Chopin. He’s synonymous with the piano and the piano repertoire. He developed the romantic, emotional compositions that define a pianist. If a pianist cannot play Chopin, I’m skeptical.

Good memorization? If it’s virtuoso and layers and textures, you don’t have time to look at sheet music, so memorization is the way. Like Rachmaninoff 3rd, the mothership of all piano concertos is about 45 minutes. There’s a method to it.

Wrong notes? It happens to everyone; we’re not machines. The goal is to make it look undetectable. It happened to Rubenstein and Horowitz. They composed their way out of it so it doesn’t look like an obvious mistake. They take a detour and get back on track. The nerds who follow along with sheet music are the only ones to detect it.

Musical taste? I listen to old masters and symphonic and opera. My friend worked at the MET, so I caught every production for two or three years. I love the energy and freedom of dance music. I also love pop from the 90s and was a big Spice Girls fan. I love Queen and ABBA. I love melody-driven songs.

Favorite hobby? To compose. I would love to write music for a motion picture while keeping my classical background.

Guilty pleasure? I have a pretty bad sweet tooth for all kinds of chocolate and cake. Pavlova. Merengue with whipped cream. Binge watching? Sex and the City. Yes, still. It never gets old.

Your heroes? My grandmother was my hero. She was strong and devoted and didn’t have an easy life. She lost her parents at 14, so was alone. I look back at that and find it amazing that a person could have that strength. She never had indulgences. She never went to the spa or had a CHANEL purse. I admire women who always do the right thing, women like my piano teacher, Tamara Popovich, who was determined, hardworking, responsible, and made of steel, and my Mom, who lived unselfishly for her family.

Character goal? To be selfless. I try. I’m not there yet, but I try. I hope to get there one day. I don’t take the showbiz side very seriously.

Embarrassing moment? I was playing at Carnegie Hall for an American Cancer Society charity, and my sharp Louboutin heel poked right through the dress and got tangled up. The audience laughed.

Charity performances? I’ve played for charities like The Cleveland Clinic, one of the best heart surgery hospitals.

Love life? I have funny theories about love. Unless you’re married with his last name, you’re single. I need to have the freedom to do my thing. I like a partnership where nobody controls or tells each other what to do. You have to find your person. Most people settle and go through the motions. How many people do you know that really, really want to be with each other? I don’t know a lot. I look at it like romance has to bring excitement and joy. Goosebumps and butterflies! There are plenty of routine things you must do in life, so love life has to be a plus— a bonus. Otherwise, no thanks!

Where’s Mr. Right? I have to find someone who wants to find me— specifically. And they want to come home to me because that’s where they’re the happiest. I will be the last person to commit to someone, but once I do, I won’t do it halfway—it’s got to be extraordinary. A guy in showbiz? No, definitely not. And not a musician. I want a regular guy. Surprisingly, I’m leaning toward something more old-fashioned. Trust issues? You have to take men for what they are and not for what you wish them to be. I’m a very loyal person, so I need to find a man who wants to mirror that. Men like variety. They probably wish to be with multiple people. It’s not even about that as long as it’s fair and equal.

Five years? I want a big house out in nature. I love nature and animals. It may be somewhere other than the big city. When I plan or say it, it may not happen, so I like things to happen first and then talk about it. Life’s always unexpected and not what you think it will be.

Happiest moment? I hope it’s still ahead of me.

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SUMMER 2023 GENLUX 91