Strand International Piano Series 2025/6 -Rachmaninoff Preludes

Step into the stunning candlelit setting of St Mary le Strand — “the Jewel of the Strand” — for the return of The Strand International Piano Series, now it's in fourth year after a critically acclaimed launch season in 2022–23. This intimate and architecturally impressive Baroque church has quickly become one of London’s most captivating concert venues, offering sublime acoustics along with the power and clarity of a brand-new Steinway concert grand piano.

This year’s series celebrates one of the most evocative and emotionally charged achievements in the piano repertoire: Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 24 Preludes. Spanning every major and minor key, these works offer a sweeping portrait of the composer’s inner world—from thunderous drama and virtuosic brilliance to haunting lyricism and introspective beauty. Written across different periods of his life, the preludes reflect the full range of Rachmaninoff’s genius, and each concert in the series reveals a new facet of his profound musical voice.

Whether you’re a seasoned concert-goer or discovering classical piano music for the first time, this is an evening not to be missed—set in one of London’s most atmospheric musical spaces, just steps away from some of the city’s finest restaurants and bars.

Featuring
Olga Stezhko (piano)

Programme
Beethoven - Sonata No. 19, Op.49 in G minor
Beethoven - No. 20 Op 49/2 in G major
Ravel - Alborada del gracioso
Ravel - La vallée des cloches
Rachmaninoff  - Etude-tableaux Op.39, no. 8
Rachmaninoff - Prelude op 23, no. 4
Scriabin - Sonata no. 4

About Olga Stezhko

Olga Stezhko is an award-winning concert pianist and critically acclaimed recording artist, renowned for her striking and idiosyncratic programmes that explore intriguing connections between music, science and history spanning the last four centuries. She is particularly distinguished in her interpretations of Scriabin and Debussy.

Olga is a passionate interdisciplinary collaborator with a love for astrophysics. In her multimedia projects, she engages audiences with groundbreaking ideas and communicates the cutting-edge research in astronomy through an awe-inspiring interplay of music and science. 

Coming from the country whose people continue to suffer under the 30-year-old dictatorial regime, Olga is committed to raising awareness of the rich culture and history of her native Belarus. She also seeks to nurture the power of international solidarity in supporting post-colonial countries through artistic collaborations.