Down in the hotel lobby, Jonathan was surrounded by reporters and camera crews. His phone had not stopped ringing all night. The story about Maria was now the biggest news in the music world.
"Mr. Hayes!" called a reporter from CNN. "Can you confirm that this girl is really Victor Petrov's daughter?"
"Where is she now?" asked someone from the Today Show. "Can we interview her?"
Jonathan held up his hands to quiet everyone. "Please," he said. "This young woman has been through terrible things. She needs time to rest and recover before she talks to anyone."
But the music world was not waiting. Lang Lang, one of the most famous pianists in the world, had posted a video response on Instagram: "I have watched this young woman's performance 50 times," he said. "Her talent is beyond anything I have ever seen. She plays with the soul of someone who has lived through great pain but found beauty in music."
The New York Philharmonic's music director, James Chen, called an emergency meeting with his staff. "We need to find this girl," he said. "If she really is Victor Petrov's daughter, she belongs on our stage."
Carnegie Hall's booking manager was already preparing a contract. "We want to offer her a solo performance," she told her assistant. "This could be the most important concert of the decade."
Record companies were competing to sign Maria. Sony Classical offered a million-dollar recording contract. Deutsche Grammophon promised to make her the youngest artist ever featured on their prestigious label. Warner Classics said they would give her complete creative control over her music.
But the most important response came from musicians who had known and worked with Victor Petrov. They were sharing memories and confirming that Maria's playing style was identical to her father's.
Martha Argerich, the legendary pianist, posted a heartfelt message: "Victor was my dear friend and one of the greatest musicians I ever knew. If this beautiful girl is his daughter, then she carries his gift and deserves our protection and support."
The Moscow Conservatory, where Victor had studied, announced they would offer Maria a full scholarship. "Victor Petrov was one of our most distinguished graduates," said the dean. "His daughter would be welcome here with open arms."