Tanya Gabrielian: Reimagining the Piano with Truth and Tenacity
From a childhood of compulsory lessons to uncovering forgotten Russian scores, Tanya Gabrielian’s journey as a pianist is one of radical authenticity. Eschewing the label “musician,” she instead embraces the role of an interpreter—one who filters the architecture of a composer’s work through a deeply personal, intellectual lens. Her artistry is built not on spectacle but on substance, influenced by the discipline of figures like Rachmaninoff and Sokolov. With bold honesty, she calls out the industry’s limitations, choosing emotional precision over market-driven popularity.
In this episode, Gabrielian opens up about the paradox of performance, her ambivalence toward the spotlight, and her most transformative encounters with audiences. She recalls one post-concert moment where a listener, moved by her playing, vowed to return to painting after two decades. It’s these shared human experiences, not applause, that define her success. As she puts it, “For 90 minutes, you get to speak your truth.” And it’s that truth—unfiltered and unscripted—that drives her forward.
Currently, she’s deep into a passion project restoring the legacy of Alexander Siloti, Rachmaninoff’s mentor, whose handwritten editions Gabrielian unearthed in Montana. From obscure Tchaikovsky transcriptions to an upcoming recording of overlooked immigrant voices, her work challenges narrow views of musical identity. Even amid a system skewed toward privilege, Gabrielian stays grounded in her mission: to make music that matters, and to do so without compromising who she is.
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