Pianist Nikolai Lugansky has signed to the Naïve label.

The Moscow-born pianist's previous recordings have appeared on a number of labels, including the Rachmaninov piano concertos with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Sakari Oramo on Warner Classics, and a particularly praised 2004 recording of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1 for Pentatone, with Kent Nagano and the Russian National Orchestra. ‘The conception is spacious, with pianist and conductor taking time to relish the music's puissance’, wrote Gramophone. ‘Lugansky's bravura is thrilling, and the coda would certainly bring down the house in concert.'

Patrick Zelnik, president and CEO of Naïve, said: 'There are dreams that come true. Nikolai Lugansky is a wizard of the keyboard, like the great Russian pianists who preceded him, in particular Emil Gilels. I am deeply moved and honoured by the trust he shows in us in signing a recording contract with Naïve on the Naïve/Ambroisie label.'

Lugansky’s first release for Naïve will be a solo Liszt recital – the pianist’s first recording of the composer’s music, it will be available from October 24.