Sergei Bortkiewicz - A Romantic from Kharkiv (Anna Shelest)

Information

Composer: Sergei Bortkiewicz

• Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 16
• Lamentations & Consolations, Op. 17: No. 1 in D Minor
• 3 Pieces, Op. 24: No. 1, Nocturne
• A Thousand and One Nights, Op. 37

Anna Shelest, piano

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

Neeme Järvi, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: Music and Arts Programs of America

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Pianist Anna Shelest pays tribute to her native Kharkiv and composer Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877–1952), whose deeply Romantic music evokes nostalgia, beauty, and elegance amid the turmoil of the early 20th century. Reflecting Ukraine’s rich cultural and political complexity, Bortkiewicz’s works offer a dreamlike escape from war and revolution. The album features his Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra under Neeme Järvi, alongside the One Thousand and One Nights Ballet Suite and two intimate solo pieces, Lamentation and Nocturne, showcasing Shelest’s expressive artistry and affinity for her compatriot’s lyrical world.

Ukrainian-born pianist Anna Shelest began her musical studies at the Kharkiv Special Music School and earned her Master’s degree from The Juilliard School under Jerome Lowenthal. She debuted with the Kharkiv Symphony at age twelve and has since performed with major orchestras including the Cincinnati Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, and St. Petersburg Philharmonic. Renowned for her collaborations with Neeme Järvi, she has recorded rare piano concertos by Anton Rubinstein, Artur Lemba, and Sergei Bortkiewicz. Her acclaimed “Donna Voce” project highlights women composers. With her husband Dmitri, she forms the Shelest Piano Duo, celebrated for championing Ukrainian repertoire.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz