Medici Arts: 3085248
Classic Archive: Tatiana Nikolayeva 
Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op.87
Our Price: £14.95 (£12.72 ex VAT)
Format: DVD - NTSC
Number of Discs: 1
Genre: Instrumental
Artist(s): Tatiana Nikolayeva (piano)
Release Date: 30th June 2008
More Details on Classic Archive: Tatiana Nikolayeva
Lovingly restored, using the finest state-of-the-art technology, Classic Archive features great performances from legendary artists, offering a unique historical glimpse into our classical heritage!
Shostakovich’s cycle of 24 Preludes and Fugues always held a special place in Tatiana Nikolayeva’s vast repertoire. She inspired and premiered the work in Leningrad in 1952 and it was also the last piece she ever performed on stage before her untimely death in 1993.
The lifelong friendship between the composer and the performer started when the 26-year-old Nikolayeva won first prize at the 1950 Bach Piano competition organized in Leipzig for the bicentennial of the German composer’s death.
As a member of the jury, Shostakovich was immensely impressed by her playing and inspired by the experience, he returned to Moscow to compose his own set of Preludes and Fugues from 10 October 1950 to 25 February 1951.
Nikolayeva witnessed the ongoing creative process. Taking only one or two days to complete each new prelude and fugue, Shostakovich would ask her to come to his Moscow apartment where he played for Nikolayeva the latest piece he had composed for her.
Bonus: Documentary - Tatiana Nikolayeva plays Dmitri Shostakovich.
Broadcast: 21-30 December, 1992 [BBC Archives]
Picture Format: NTSC · 4:3 fullscreen
Sound Formats: PCM Stereo
Region Code: 0
Booklet Notes: Tracklist in English, French, German
Running Time: 150 mins (concert) + 14 mins (bonus)
Shostakovich’s cycle of 24 Preludes and Fugues always held a special place in Tatiana Nikolayeva’s vast repertoire. She inspired and premiered the work in Leningrad in 1952 and it was also the last piece she ever performed on stage before her untimely death in 1993.
The lifelong friendship between the composer and the performer started when the 26-year-old Nikolayeva won first prize at the 1950 Bach Piano competition organized in Leipzig for the bicentennial of the German composer’s death.
As a member of the jury, Shostakovich was immensely impressed by her playing and inspired by the experience, he returned to Moscow to compose his own set of Preludes and Fugues from 10 October 1950 to 25 February 1951.
Nikolayeva witnessed the ongoing creative process. Taking only one or two days to complete each new prelude and fugue, Shostakovich would ask her to come to his Moscow apartment where he played for Nikolayeva the latest piece he had composed for her.
Bonus: Documentary - Tatiana Nikolayeva plays Dmitri Shostakovich.
Broadcast: 21-30 December, 1992 [BBC Archives]
Picture Format: NTSC · 4:3 fullscreen
Sound Formats: PCM Stereo
Region Code: 0
Booklet Notes: Tracklist in English, French, German
Running Time: 150 mins (concert) + 14 mins (bonus)
