The Preludes and Fugues

The project Shostakovich 50, recorded by Fly on the Wall at the Royal Academy of Music and sponsored by the City Music Foundation, celebrates one of the greatest masterpieces of all time on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death in 1975.

Composed in 1950–51 during Stalin’s regime, Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, stands as a testament to Shostakovich’s genius and resilience at a time of immense pressure. It is likely its variety, depth, and historical weight that make it one of the most remarkable works of the last century—and one of the most complex and exciting challenges for a pianist.