With the 24 Preludes of 1999 based on music of Dmitri Shostakovich, the Russian-American composer is continuing a tradition that was founded, not least, by Dmitri Shostakovich and Rodion Shchedrin with their prelude compositions partially orientated on Bach.

Be that as it may, these miniatures arranged in accordance with the cycle of fifths are highly individual, colourful and surprising in their newly interpreted polystylism. Lera Auerbach has commented on the cycle as follows: “The special...