Shostakovich: Piano Concertos, Fantastic Dances, Prelude & Fugue

Featuring

Giuseppe Andalora
Filippo Arlia
L’Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese
Dmitri Shostakovich

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Shostakovich, the composer, aimed to defend the right to incorporate humor into serious music, a philosophy evident in his Piano Concerto No.1.

Historical Context

Shostakovich's life and work were spent entirely within the Soviet Union, under constant pressure from a regime that alternated between exalting and condemning his work.

Performer Biography

Giuseppe Andaloro, the pianist on this recording, and Filippo Arlia, the conductor, are internationally renowned for their talent, technical mastery, and expressive intensity.

Composition History

Shostakovich's Twenty-Four Preludes and Fugues, Op.87, were inspired by his visit to Leipzig for the bicentenary of Bach's death.

Compositional Technique

Many passages in the first and third movements of Piano Concerto No.2 were intended by Shostakovich as exercises for his son, Maxim, who was not fond of practicing certain techniques.