The best of classical

SHOSTAKOVICH: 24 Preludes & Fugues (Signum)

IT WAS hearing Tatiana Nikolayeva play Bach in Leipzig in 1951 that gave Dmitri Shostakovich the inspiration for these pieces. His 24 Preludes & Fugues are masterpieces of his art, and pianist Peter Donohoe delivers one of the most satisfying recordings ever made of the whole set. The music is immensely varied, and often Donohoe

makes it sound simple, which it is not. These pieces seem to rise up out of the soul of the piano. They fit nicely on to two discs and Donohoe also gives us detailed notes, with one on each pair of pieces.