Dmitry Shostakovich’s succinctly composed and highly distinctive 24 Preludes have proved their popularity in numerous arrangements, but when the composer heard these transcriptions by Smitry Tsyganov he declared that ‘I forgot they were originally written for piano, so naturally did they sound.’ The set was completed in 2000 by the Russian-born composer and pianist Lera Auerbach. These often whimsical and ironic Preludes contrast greatly with the chilling and profound Violin Sonata, a late work that concludes with Shostakovich’s last ever use of passacaglia form.

Works Shostakovich: Preludes for piano (24), Op. 34 Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 1 in C major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 2 in A minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 3 in G major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 4 in E minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 5 in D major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 6 in B minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 7 in A major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 8 in F sharp minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 9 in E major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 10 in C sharp minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 11 in B major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 12 in G sharp minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 13 in F sharp major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 14 in E flat minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 15 in D flat major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 16 in B flat minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 17 in A flat major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 18 in F minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 19 in E flat major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 20 in C minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 21 in B flat major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 22 in G minor Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 23 in F major Shostakovich: Prelude for piano, Op. 34 No. 24 in D minor Shostakovich: Violin Sonata, Op. 134