“… Romanticism is not the bloodless intellectual commitment to a program, but the expression of my most profound mind and soul.” – Sergei Bortkiewicz

This deeply personal attitude toward Romanticism encapsulates the artistic philosophy that sustained Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877–1952) through the turbulent tides of the early 20th century: the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the unrelenting horrors of the Second World War. Anchored in a deep sense of nostalgia, his works evoke a world imbued with dreams and elegance – a stark contrast to the chaos that surrounded him. The composer’s life and career reflect the multiethnic, multilingual, and politically complex tapestries of Ukraine during his time.

This album is dedicated to the city of Kharkiv – the hometown of both the composer and the pianist featured on this recording.

Hailed by The New York Times as a pianist of a fiery sensibility and warm touch, Anna Shelest continues her collaboration with the legendary conductor Neeme Järvi with this release. Their previous recordings featuring the complete works for piano and orchestra by Anton Rubinstein have been praised by Gramophone magazine for their “…power and agility… effortless effect… nuanced and incisive all around.”