Bel Suono (It. “Beautiful Sound”) is a Russian trio and the only piano trio in the world performing in the progressive genre of classical crossover. Bel Suono’s repertoire includes the finest examples of classical and contemporary music in unique original arrangements, as well as new compositions written by the trio’s soloists specifically for the project.
Kirill Gushchin, Anton Mosenkov, and Nikita Khabin are three incredibly artistic and charismatic virtuosos, graduates of the Moscow Conservatory and its postgraduate program, winners of prestigious international competitions, and brilliant composers and improvisers.
The creator, producer, and ideological inspirer of Bel Suono is Leyla Fattakhova, a pianist and graduate of the Tashkent Conservatory. With over 25 years of experience in show business, she has held top positions at some of the most renowned record companies and later became the founder and head of her own PR agency.
In 2026, Bel Suono celebrates its 15th anniversary with a grand jubilee tour. Over the years, the trio has created a unique musical brand recognized both in Russia and internationally — a synthesis of classical academic tradition, modern technology, and spectacular stage performance.
The anniversary program will become the quintessence of Bel Suono’s artistic journey. It will feature new musical works, including original compositions by the soloists, reimagined classical masterpieces, soundtracks from world and Soviet cinema, as well as unexpected interpretations of global pop and rock classics.
The jubilee tour will also be marked by the release of the trio’s new studio album — the seventh in their discography.
I was born in the village of Surmenevsky in the Chelyabinsk region. My parents are economists by training and have spent their entire lives living and working in the countryside.
I was born in Engels, a city known for its trolleybuses and for being located near the site where Yuri Gagarin landed after his historic space flight. My parents are engineers with higher technical education and work in their field.
I was bornand raised in Moscow. My mother is an economic analyst, and my father served inthe military.
Neither of my parents are professional musicians, but they both studied at music schools. My aunt is a pianist. She graduated from the Saratov Conservatory and helped me take my first steps at the keyboard. When I was six, an experimental Music and Aesthetic Lyceum opened in my city, based on the tradition of classical ten year schools like the Central Music School and the Gnessin Moscow Special Music School. My mother felt it was the perfect place for me. After graduating, I moved to Moscow and studied at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, followed by its postgraduate program under Professors Irina Plotnikova and Nadezhda Chibisova.
My introduction to music began in early childhood at a choreography school, where one of our classes was called General Piano. I found those lessons far more interesting than choreography itself. I felt naturally drawn to music and approached it with real focus and enthusiasm. Together with my parents, we decided that I would pursue music professionally, and I transferred to a music school, a decision I have never regretted. I later attended the P. I. Tchaikovsky Academic Music College and went on to graduate from the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory.
There were no professional musicians in my family, but everyone loved to sing. One day my father brought home an old piano on a trailer, and it immediately caught my attention. Luckily, there was a small music school in a neighboring village with incredibly dedicated teachers. A year before entering college, we moved to Magnitogorsk so I could study with Professor N. I. Melnikova. That experience ultimately shaped my decision to pursue music as a profession. I later studied at the Moscow Conservatory in the class of M. S. Voskresensky, followed by the Conservatory’s Assistantship Internship program.
I was invited by Maxim, whom I knew from the conservatory, and we shared a room in the dormitory. However, I had no knowledge of the project and had never heard of it before. I remember that Leila had doubts about me, but she eventually decided to go ahead with it, and I hope she doesn't regret it! For me, Bel Suono is a bold experiment that proves that even in our ever-changing times, it is possible to create something new, fresh, and modern while drawing on the centuries-old traditions of global musical culture. It is undoubtedly the work of my dreams!
I had known about Bel Suono for a long time thanks to my friend Vasya Opalev, who was part of the trio. Because of him, I often attended their concerts. After one performance, backstage, I had the chance to congratulate the already beloved Bel Suono on a successful show, and there happened to be a grand piano nearby. To be honest, I can never resist one. I sat down and started to improvise. Producer Leyla Fattakhova noticed my playing, and hearing her feedback was incredibly meaningful to me.
Some time later, I learned that one of the soloists was leaving. I immediately understood that opportunities like this come once in a lifetime. Vasya played a huge role in this story and helped me immensely, something I will always be grateful for. Thanks to his recommendation, Leyla invited me to audition and take part in the general casting. That is how I joined the trio, and I am still happy about it every single day.
My path to Bel Suono still feels like a mystery, even to me. To some, it might seem simple. I received a call from the producer and, fortunately, I answered it. And here I am. I believe the recommendations from my teachers and colleagues from previous projects played an important role, for which I am deeply grateful.
After graduating from the conservatory, I was lucky to work on a wide range of projects across different styles and genres. Over time, I found myself thinking more and more about how to use that experience in the most meaningful way. I am truly happy that this opportunity came along.
I've always been a fan of Western rock music mixed with electronic music - Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Muse, Radiohead, Coldplay, The Killers... Recently, I've also started to like lounge and fusion music - music that helps me relax and reflect. Among classical music, I particularly enjoy the works of piano composers such as Rachmaninoff and Liszt.
I love music that truly grabs you, and that only happens when the artist genuinely has something to say. In those moments, the genre doesn’t matter to me.
I grew up listening to rock music, both Russian and international. That love stayed with me throughout my years at the conservatory, even as classical music naturally became my main focus during and after my studies. Over time, other genres entered my life as well. Jazz, in particular, became a separate passion. For nearly ten years, I’ve been developing my improvisation skills and regularly attending jazz concerts. For me, the idea of a masterpiece is very flexible. It can be a symphony, a rock ballad, or a jazz composition. Genre is ultimately just a formality.
I think Iwould happily do something related to cars, maybe racing or even opening my ownauto repair shop.
If I hadn’t become a musician, I don’t think I would truly feel happy or in my place. Perhaps I could have been a programmer or a mathematician. It’s a somewhat paradoxical mix, creativity and exact sciences.
I once wanted to be a football player, but I have to admit I didn’t have much talent for it. It’s probably a good thing our village didn’t have sports clubs, otherwise the world might have gained another unfortunate footballer. Now it’s hard to imagine life without music. If not music, I think I would have become a journalist or critic. I enjoy refining ideas and expressing them clearly and convincingly.
As I’ve mentioned before, I love cars and everything connected to them. I closely follow Formula 1 and enjoy driving myself. I also like walking around the city, traveling, reading, and singing.
My hobby is… collecting new hobbies, which is a bit of a tautology. There are too many to list, but I’ll try. IT and technology, all kinds of gadgets, video editing, snowboarding, traveling, cars. A little bit of everything. At the same time, anything directly connected to piano playing, such as composition, arranging, and sound engineering, I consider strictly part of my professional work.
I’m fortunate that my hobbies largely overlap with my work, though I also have interests outside of music. I love football, both playing and watching, and I regularly attend games of my favorite hockey team. I’m also very interested in chess, though I’ve never studied it professionally, partly because I’m afraid it could absorb me completely and distract me from music. I’m also interested in history and closely follow current events in Russia and around the world.
