ONE of Russia's foremost pianists, Dmitri Alexeev, launches a series of six concerts at the Turner Sims commemorating the 50th anniversary of composer Sergei Prokofiev's death.

The series at the Turner Sims will be based around the composer's nine completed piano sonatas. These will be performed alongside some of the composer's other works, as well as pieces by his contemporaries.

Russian pianist Alexeev, a winner of the prestigious Leeds Piano Competition, will perform music by Prokofiev and other fellow countrymen Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov.

Alexeev has performed with major orchestras all over the world. He has particularly strong links with the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

On Tuesday there will be a pre-show talk, Prokofiev the Composer, by Professor David Brown, Emeritus Professor of Musicology at the University of Southampton.

Turner Simms Concert Hall, Southampton - Tuesday. Performance: 8pm (Talk: 7pm). Tickets: £16. Box office: 023 8059 5151.