Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87

Featuring

Jenny Lin
Dmitri Shostakovich

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Performer Biography

Jenny Lin, the pianist on this recording, is known for her adventurous programming and ability to combine classical and contemporary literature.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Dmitri Shostakovich considered Johann Sebastian Bach, whose 200th death anniversary in 1950 inspired this work, one of his favorite composers.

Performer Biography

Jenny Lin has received critical acclaim for her performances, with The New York Times praising her "remarkable technical command" and Gramophone Magazine calling her "an exceptionally sensitive pianist."

Composition History

Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, were inspired by the 200th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach's death in 1950.

Notable Performances

The world premiere of Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues was given by pianist Tatiana Nikolaieva on December 28, 1952, with significant success.

Compositional Technique

Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues are arranged in a cycle of fifths and alternating relative major and minor keys, similar to Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, but conceived as a full evening's performance.

Critical Reception

The Soviet composers' association criticized Shostakovich's Preludes and Fugues in 1951, accusing him of "formalism and decadence" and dismissing some fugues as "second-rate cacophony."