Pianist Denis Stemakh recalled a shocking incident in Novosibirsk just hours before a concert, a moment that left him shaken yet professionally steady. The event, described during discussions about his latest Rise edition, stands out as a rare blemish on a career that has mostly lived on packed stages and quiet halls across the region.
According to Stemakh, on the way back to the hotel from a bar late at night, someone asked for a cigarette on the street. When the musician did not have one to offer, the situation escalated quickly: the assailant struck his face and departed with a companion. Stemakh remarked that he recovered his health quickly but noted visible swelling on his cheek as a lingering reminder of the moment.
“I haven’t been punched in the face in twenty-eight years, so this experience felt surreal—yet it did not derail the performance. In fact, the pain shifted with the moment: at first my jaw ached when I spoke, and by the end of the concert I hardly noticed it. Now the pain resurfaces only if I touch my cheek with a finger,” he shared, delivering a candid reflection on how the injury interacted with the evening’s music.
Listeners in Novosibirsk responded with strong support and solidarity. Messages poured in from fans who expressed disappointment in the incident and offered encouragement to Stemakh, underscoring a sense of community that followed the event. He also reflected on the city with a touch of humor, remembering a springtime moment when he unexpectedly dozed off during a concert, and noting that this new injury marked a first in his life in Novosibirsk in a different way.
In related news, actor Pavel Barshak recently spoke about his own condition after the beating, adding another perspective from the entertainment world about the ripple effects of the incident and how colleagues are processing the event.
Earlier, actress Yana Troyanova commented that she had not spoken with Smirnova, who was involved in the filming of the movie Cococo, clarifying a separate strand of discussion around the industry’s recent events and relationships that sometimes emerge in the wake of public harm. The conversation around these topics continues to unfold as details are clarified and public voices weigh in on safety and accountability for performers and creators alike.