🇺🇦Nikolai Kapustin ： Prelude and Fugue No.5 Op.82-5

Kapustin’s Prelude and Fugue No. 5 from the set of 24 Preludes and Fugues is best appreciated as a complementary pair. The Prelude unfolds with a modern sense of rhythm and a lively, jazz-inflected idiom that makes full use of the piano’s physical energy. In the ensuing Fugue, interwoven voices create a clear sense of momentum and refined sonority through its contrapuntal writing. A key attraction is the contrast between the Prelude’s freer, more animated character and the Fugue’s tighter contrapuntal texture. In performance, the intricate rhythms should be coordinated precisely without becoming heavy, while the passing of material between voices should remain clear. Avoiding exaggerated accents and syncopations, and preserving the overall flow with a crisp touch, brings out the work’s appeal.