Tatiana Nikolaeva

Tatyana Petrovna Nikolayeva (1924-1993) was a Russian Soviet pianist, composer and teacher.

In 1950 Nikolayeva gained prominence by winning the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition, part of the bicentennial marking Bach's death. More importantly, she met Dmitri Shostakovich at the competition, leading to a lifelong friendship, and was chosen as a first performer of Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues. Nikolayeva made three complete recordings of the cycle.

In 1959 Nikolayeva became a teacher at the Moscow Conservatory, later becoming professor in 1965. With the fall of Communism, she found herself in demand internationally, making several concert tours to Europe and the United States. She also sat as a jury member on many international competitions, including the Leeds International Piano Competition in 1984 and 1987.

One of her best known recordings is her own transcription of Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, which was released by RCA Victor in Japan. She was known to have had an immense repertoire, and many enthusiasts await the reissue of much of her Melodiya back-catalog.