One of the landmark compositions of twentieth century piano literature, Shostakovich’s Preludes and Fugues were inspired by his study of the music of Bach, in particular The Well Tempered Clavier. They were written in 1950–51, shortly after the notorious ‘Zhdanov Decree’ had the effect of making Shostakovich’s concert and recital music unperformable in Russia. To this day the Preludes and Fugues remain amongst the composer’s most personal and uncompromising compositions, as wide ranging in emotion as they are varied in form.