At 19, Sergei Rachmaninov composed the C-sharp minor prelude right after he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory. Its huge success motivated him to complete a set of 24 preludes following Chopin’s footsteps, except that Rachmaninov’s are all full-length pieces, demanding stratospheric keyboard technique and penetrating musicianship. Celebrating Rachmaninov’s 150th anniversary this year, pianist Konstantin Lifschitz will join forces with fellow Gnessin Academy pianist and lifelong friend Alexei Volodin in unveiling the set’s expansively colourful sonorities, with two alternating pianos on stage.