In 2018, the YouTube channel “Life Goes On In Iran” filmed an unforgettable moment while visiting Russia. That video, recorded during the FIFA World Cup in Kazan, has since gone viral. By 2021, it had been watched over 5.6 million times!
The video captures an older woman sitting at a worn-out street piano in the middle of a busy crowd. Without hesitation, she begins playing “Hungarian Rhapsody No.2” by Franz Liszt, one of the most famous pieces in classical music. Liszt wrote 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies between 1846 and 1853, but this one is the most well-known.
As her fingers dance across the keys, the woman’s face glows with joy. She plays effortlessly, pouring passion into every note. The person who uploaded the video, “Life Goes On In Iran,” commented, “I love her smile at the end of the video.” Many others agreed, saying her happiness made the performance even more special.
In the background, faint squeaking sounds can be heard. Many viewers noticed that the piano was quite old and worn out. Being a street piano, it had probably been played by countless people before her. But none of that seemed to matter. The woman played with such skill and grace that the condition of the piano was completely forgotten. Instead, people marveled at her talent and determination.
As she finishes her performance, the crowd erupts into applause. Smiles spread across their faces, and some step forward to congratulate her. Another woman gently takes her by the arm and leads her away from the piano, back into the crowd.
For a while, no one knew who this extraordinary pianist was. But after the video gained worldwide attention, her identity was finally revealed—her name is Eleonora Arkadevya Breslav from Kazan, Russia. While her exact age is unknown, records show she graduated from music college in 1953. She worked as an accompanist at her college until 1958, then moved on to the prestigious Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, one of the world’s greatest opera and ballet houses.
Eleonora Breslav’s performance is proof that music knows no age. It speaks to people from all walks of life, no matter where they come from or what language they speak. In that moment, on a simple street piano, she reminded everyone of the universal magic of music.
