Preludes and fugues by Shostakovich
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Fri 31 Oct 202519:30 - 22:00Grote Zaal
Program
Dmitri Shostakovich 24 Preludes and Fugues Op. 87
Credits
Alexander Melnikov piano
The 24 Preludes and fugues are among the most personal works Shostakovich ever composed. They serve as a homage to the preludes and fugues in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Wohltemperiertes Klavier. Rather than reflecting the dark Soviet world of Shostakovich’s era, this music is about the craftsmanship of composing. His masterpiece breathes a characteristic intensity: sometimes bitter, sometimes tragic, yet also detached and purely musical – a quality shared with the timeless music of Bach.
Pianist Alexander Melnikov performed the complete cycle in the Muziekgebouw in 2012 – a memorable concert. Prior to that, in 2010, he released an impressive recording of this work on CD. His interpretation is considered the modern standard.
