Sergei Bortkiewicz: Piano Works

Featuring

Sławomir Wilk
Sergei Bortkiewicz

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Critical Reception

The Piano Sonata No. 2 in C sharp minor, Op. 60, was a great success at its premiere, enthusiastically received by both audience and critics, but was not published during the composer's lifetime due to wartime conditions.

Historical Context

During World War II, most of Bortkiewicz's printed works held by German publishers were destroyed in the bombing of Leipzig on December 4, 1943, leading to a significant loss of income.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Sergei Bortkiewicz considered himself a Romantic and melodist, prioritizing melody, harmony, and formal structure in his creative process.

Composer Biography

Bortkiewicz's Second Piano Concerto for the left hand, Op. 28, was commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein, a pianist who lost his right hand during World War I.

Composer Biography

Bortkiewicz's Concert Etude in D flat major, Op. 15 No. 8, played a role in the marriage of his friend, Dutch pianist Hugo van Dalen, earning it the nickname 'engagement etude'.

Historical Context

During his escape from Russia in 1920, Sergei Bortkiewicz witnessed hundreds of Russian emigrant ships anchored near Constantinople, with locals exchanging food for valuables.

Composer Biography

Sergei Bortkiewicz's father, Eduard Bortkiewicz, allegedly participated in the January Uprising, a Polish revolt against Russian rule, for which he was exiled to the Tomsk province.