IDAGIO | A Romantic from Kharkiv: Music of Sergei Bortkiewicz Piano Concerto No. 1

Featuring

Anna Shelest
Neeme Järvi
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
Sergei Bortkiewicz

Did you know?

1/7

Composer's Artistic Vision

Sergei Bortkiewicz's artistic philosophy was a deeply personal attitude toward Romanticism, expressing his most profound mind and soul.

Historical Context

Despite being classified as Russian or 'Ukrainian-born Pole' by some Western sources, Sergei Bortkiewicz is identified as a Ukrainian composer due to his geography, cultural formation, and family ties.

Performer Biography

Neeme Järvi, the conductor on this album, is the head of a musical dynasty and has amassed a discography of nearly 500 recordings.

Performer Biography

Anna Shelest, the pianist on this album, is an international award-winning artist hailed by The New York Times for her 'fiery sensibility and warm touch'.

Composer Biography

Sergei Bortkiewicz's mother, Sofia Kazimirovna Bortkiewicz, was an excellent pianist who gave him his first music lessons.

Composer Biography

Sergei Bortkiewicz's life was marked by constant upheaval and hardship, including the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the Second World War, leading to perpetual displacement.

Album & Artwork

This album is dedicated to the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, the hometown of both the composer Sergei Bortkiewicz and the pianist Anna Shelest, and to its people.