His famous teacher at the Moscow Conservatory, Tatiana Nikolayeva, once said he would become "the pianist of tomorrow," and today critics say that he is one of the most influential pianists of his generation. His pure and poetic playing, which blends power and refinement, lyricism and rectitude, has conquered many music lovers, and his concerts sell out quickly.
Lugansky was born in Moscow in 1972, the son of two scientists, and started playing piano when he was just five. He later studied at the Moscow Central Music School and the Moscow Conservatory, where his teachers included Tatiana Kestner, Tatiana Nikolayeva and Sergei Dorensky.
His international career kicked off in 1994 when he won the prestigious Tchaikovsky competition. He has collected numerous prizes ever since, including the revered German Echo Klassik Award in 2005 and 2007 for his interpretation of Rachmaninov's first and third piano concertos and for the cello sonatas of the same composer together with Alexander Knyazev.
He is also famous for his various recordings. His main focus has been on the works of Rachmaninov and Chopin, of which he has produced numerous recordings.
Considering he will perform precisely those two, his concert on Sunday at the Great Hall of the Conservatory promises to be of special interest, especially given that he will play such grandiose works as Chopin's famous Sonata No. 3 in b minor and Rachmaninoff's No. 1 in d minor. Apart from that he will also perform Janacek's Sonata "1.X.1905."
Nikolai Lugansky (piano) performs Janacek’s Sonata 1.X.1905 From the Street, Rachmaninov’s Sonata No. 1 in D minor and Chopin’s Sonata No. 3 in B minor, at 7 p.m. in the Conservatory Great Hall, 13 Bolshaya Nikitskaya Ulitsa. M. Pushkinskaya, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina. 629-9401/7412/8183
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