DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH - Prelude and Fugue in A-flat Major, Op. 87 No. 17 (January 1951)
Shostakovich’s interest in preludes and fugues dates back to when he was one of the jury members of the Leipzig International Bach Competition 1950. Whilst there, Shostakovich became captivated by Well-Tempered Clavier Books I and II, especially Tatiana Nikolayeva’s interpretation. He was exceedingly impressed with her playing that upon his return to Moscow, he plunged into the composition of his own cycle of 24 Preludes and Fugues (Op. 87). During the four-month compositional process, he communicated with Nikolayeva daily and played the piece he had just written to her, developing an intimate friendship. With much of his music absorbed, she undertook the cycle’s public premiere in 1952 and has championed it ever since… [301 more words]
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