Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues Op. 87.

[Andy2112]

To begin, a sincere thank you to those of you who have assisted me with my previous requests for recording recommendations. These have helped me find outstanding recordings of some old favorites and some works I was unfamiliar with previously. It is always fascinating to read the reasonings and personal perspectives behind such suggestions.
Now for my latest visit to the font of knowledge. Came across some excerpts from Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues, performed by Alexander Melnikov on TNT last week and found them absolutely captivating, mesmerising. After listening to the full work on YouTube I would like to add a recording to my collection. Would appreciate any recommendations, CD only, recent recordings as in last 40 years or so preferred. Thanks in advance.

[Dave2002]

Tatiana Nikolayeva’s recordings have been held to be amongst the best for some time.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shostakovich-24-Preludes-Fugues-Dmitry/dp/B000002ZO8/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1524368225&sr=1-3&refinements=p_32%3ATatiana+Nikolayeva

[HighlandDougie]

To begin, a sincere thank you to those of you who have assisted me with my previous requests for recording recommendations. These have helped me find outstanding recordings of some old favorites and some works I was unfamiliar with previously. It is always fascinating to read the reasonings and personal perspectives behind such suggestions.
Now for my latest visit to the font of knowledge. Came across some excerpts from Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues, performed by Alexander Melnikov on TNT last week and found them absolutely captivating, mesmerising. After listening to the full work on YouTube I would like to add a recording to my collection. Would appreciate any recommendations, CD only, recent recordings as in last 40 years or so preferred. Thanks in advance.

Alexander Melnikov on Harmonia Mundi - currently available from English Postbox (aka MDT) via Amazon Marketplace for £13.25. “Captivating, mesmerising”, is an excellent description of this wonderful set. Preferable, IMV, certainly to Ashkenazy.

[Bryn]

Alexander Melnikov on Harmonia Mundi - currently available from English Postbox (aka MDT) via Amazon Marketplace for £13.25. “Captivating, mesmerising”, is an excellent description of this wonderful set. Preferable, IMV, certainly to Ashkenazy.

A true bargain, especially when one considers that the £13.25 included 'free' p&p. I paid rather more for the set when it was released, but do not regretthat purchace in the least.

[Belgrove]

I have huge problems with Shostakovich, but not in this work which is a pinnacle of the piano repertoire. Any collection should have the Melnikov set which also has an interesting DVD interview with the pianist as an extra. But the work is bigger than any single artist's survey, so the versions by Nikolayeva are essential too, they capture the bitter-sweetness better than anyone else. In addition to the Hyperion set, try and seek out the Regis set (if you can get hold of it) which was recorded three years before. You have hours of deeply satisfying listening ahead of you in getting to know these pieces.

[Pulcinella]

Is the alto set the same as the Melodiya set shown here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Shostakovich+preludes+fugues+nikolayeva

I had that as separate CDs (two of which appear in this list) before getting the set for my partner too (and the subsequent Hyperion set); once our collections were combined, the single CDs went off with a very contented neighbour!

[BBMmk2]

Alexander Melnikov on Harmonia Mundi - currently available from English Postbox (aka MDT) via Amazon Marketplace for £13.25. “Captivating, mesmerising”, is an excellent description of this wonderful set. Preferable, IMV, certainly to Ashkenazy.

I have come to admire Alexander Melnikov, so I may plummet for that one!

[Stanfordian]

I have come to admire Alexander Melnikov, so I may plummet for that one!

Plumb or plummet?

[BBMmk2]

Plumb or plummet?

Plumb methinks!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Plumb or plummet?

I think he'll fall for it.

(Having been lead astray.)

[richardfinegold]

Nikoleyva recorded at least 3 times that I know of. I bought and play the the one that was released on Hyperion (I think). Critics have damned it for being to slow but for me the intensity gained is indispensable. I also had versions with Keith Jarret and Azhkenazy. The latter has just been reissued as part of some huge retrospective.
Since I rarely want to listen to the entire work at a sitting, mostly I listen to two Pianists that did not record the entire cycle: Emil Gilels and Sviatislav Richter

[Thropplenoggin]

Konstantin Scherbakov on Naxos:



You can hear a few of them on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek1hZgpskWE

[johnb]

Nikoleyva's Hyperion recording has a very reverberant acoustic which lessens my enjoyment of her performance (when did that note end? ... has it ended at all?). So I am going to splash out on the Melodiya version to complement the Hyperion.

[Nick Armstrong]

Came across some excerpts from Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues, performed by Alexander Melnikov Would appreciate any recommendations, CD only, recent recordings as in last 40 years or so preferred. Thanks in advance.

Well you can't go wrong with the Melnikov HM set. It's marvellous and arguably you need look no further for a first recording.

I was also delighted to find that the wonderful set by Roger Woodward (which I owned on RCA LP as a teenager) belatedly came out on CD - also enthusiastically recommended https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dmitri-Shos.../dp/B003ZZ7IAW

They are some way ahead of the other two I own: Vladimir Ashkenazy and Keith Jarrett.

I never got on with Nikolaeva's way with these pieces (call me a heretic) and returned both to the shop....

[ahinton]

Jonathan Powell has a number of performance of the entire cycle coming up soon; let's hope that he will eventually record them.