IDAGIO | Dmitri Shostakovich - 24 Preludes and Fugues for Piano, Op. 87 881488200546

Featuring

Dmitri Shostakovich
Emil Gilels
Sviatoslav Richter
Tatiana Nikolayeva

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Performer Biography

Sviatoslav Richter, one of the 20th century's greatest pianists, has an asteroid named 'Svyatorichter' in his honor, discovered in 1985.

Critical Reception

When Shostakovich presented his Preludes and Fugues to the Union of Soviet Composers in 1951, he faced harsh ideological criticism for being 'too avant-garde' and 'too formalist'.

Composition History

Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, were composed rapidly between October 1950 and February 1951, often with a prelude and fugue completed in just two days.

Composer Biography

Dmitri Shostakovich, born in St. Petersburg in 1906, began piano lessons at nine and was introduced to Bach's 'Well-Tempered Clavier' at eleven.

Compositional Technique

Unlike Bach's chromatic key sequence, Shostakovich organized his Preludes and Fugues using the circle of fifths, similar to Chopin's 24 Préludes.

Recording & Production

This album features 18 historical recordings of Shostakovich playing his own Preludes and Fugues, made between 1951 and 1956, presented here for the first time.