The Russian National Orchestra was founded in 1990 by pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnev. Of its debut at the BBC Proms in London, the Evening Standard wrote, "They played with such captivating beauty that the audience gave an involuntary sigh of pleasure."  The RNO has been described as "a living symbol of the best in Russian art" (Miami Herald) and "as close to perfect as one could hope for" (Trinity Mirror).

The RNO is unique among the principal Russian ensembles as an institution funded with the support of individuals, corporations and foundations in Russia and throughout the world.

Critics have always praised Lugansky for his sparkling technique and command of the instrument.

“At 40 years of age, Nikolai Lugansky has amassed more awards and high-profile performances than many concert pianists struggle to attain over a lifetime”, the Boston Classical Review wrote.

“Nikolai Lugansky is called one of the “romantic heroes” of the modern piano, emphasizing with such a definition not so much the emotionality of his performing manner as following the best traditions of the great pianists of the past. The famous violinist Vadim Repin, once one of the world-famous wunderkinds of the Soviet Union, is a frequent partner of Nikolai Lugansky in chamber music, and the joint chamber programs of the two artists are always distinguished by their originality.”
“Kommersant”

Nikolay Lugansky was born in 1972 in Moscow. He was studying at Central Music School at Moscow Conservatory under Tatiana Kestner and later on with such professors as Tatiana Nikolayeva and Sergey Dorensky. He continued his postgraduate education under Dorensky supervision. The initial stage of his career as the solo pianist brought him the title of the laureate of the I All-Union competition of young musicians in Tbilisi (1988), VIII International competition of J.S. Bach in Leipzig (1988), All-Union competition of S.V. Rachmaninoff in Moscow (1990), International summer academy Mozarteum (Salzburg, 1992) and the win at the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1994.

In 2013, Nikolay Lugansky was awarded the title of the “Honored artist of the Russian Federation”. Today on the count of the soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic and honored member the Russian Academy of arts there are many brilliant artistic achievements. They include collaboration with the best symphonic orchestras of Russia, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, and the USA and of many other countries under the direction of well-known conductors as Evgeny Svetlanov, Yuri Temirkanov, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Spivakov, Vladimir Jurowski, Yuri Simonov, Alexander Vedernikov, Kirill Petrenko, Kurt Masur, Charles Dutoit, Leonard Slatkin, Kent Nagano, Marik Janowski, Gianandrea Noseda and Sakari Oramo. Besides Lugansky`s partners in chamber performances were pianists Vadim Rudenko, Yuja Wang, violinists Vadim Repin, Leonidas Kavakos, Isabelle Faust, Sergey Krylov, cellists Aleksander Knyazev, Aleksander Rudin, Misha Maisky, clarinetist Evgeny Petrov and soprano Anna Netrebko.

Nikolay Lugansky has got a round of applause in the Great Halls of Moscow Conservatory and St.Petersburg Philharmonic, Concert Hall of P.I.Tchaikovsky, Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Theatre des Champs Elysees (Paris), Mozarteum (Salzburg), The Auditorium Parco della Musica (Rome), Great Hall of Berlin Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall (New York), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Wigmor Hall and Royal Albert Hall (London), Konzerthaus and Musikverein (Vienna) and many other famous halls of the world.

Lugansky is a constant participant of festivals in Roque-d’Anthéron, Colmar, Montpellier and Nantes (France), Ruhr and Schleswig-Holstein (Germany), Verbier and Gstaad (Switzerland) and “December evenings” in Moscow.

The pianist’s repertoire includes more than 50 piano concerts, works of different styles and epochs: from Bach to contemporary music. The performance of Chopin’s compositions by Nikolay Lugansky, which deserved comparison with the interpretations of the great Alfred Corto, was especially recognized.

The discography of Nikolay Lugansky includes records with such labels as “Melody”, Erato Disques, Warner Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, Naïve, Harmonia Mundi and other companies. His albums have been awarded many international prizes, including the Award of Terence Judd, Diapason d’Or de l’Annee (three times), ECHO Klassik (three times), Choc du Monde de la Music, Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and BBC Music Magazine Award.

Since 1998, the pianist has been giving lectures as the professor at the Moscow Conservatory at the department of special piano. Besides, Nikolay Lugansky still gives hundreds of concerts all over the world annually. In June 2019, Nikolay Lvovich was awarded the State Prize of Russia “for contribution to the development of national and world musical culture”.