 Koenemann started a twenty-four-year collaboration with Chaliapin, both as an accompanist and arranger; his arrangement of "The Volga Boatmen's Song" made the song well-known abroad after Chaliapin's emigration.Koenemann and Chaliapin – the "Two Feodors" –created the perfect duet – Koenemann was a virtuoso pianist, and Chaliapin – was a singer-wunderkind.Chaliapin was 66 days older than Koenemann.