Album insights
Born in Kharkov, Ukraine, on February 28, 1877, Sergei Eduardovich Bortkiewicz spent most of his childhood at the nearby family estate of Artiomowka. He received his musical education in St. Petersburg studying with Anatol Lyadov and Karel van Ark at the Imperial Conservatory. Upon completing studies in Leipzig in July 1902, receiving the Schumann Prize, Bortkiewicz settled in Berlin after marrying Elisabeth Geraklitowa.
With the onset of World War I in 1914, Bortkiewicz faced challenges as a Russian in Germany and later as a resident of Kharkov under Communist rule during the Russian Revolution. Forced to flee to Constantinople in 1920 with his wife, he began performing and teaching music with the help of supporters like Ilen Ilegey. Eventually, they moved to Vienna in 1933 due to Nazi restrictions on Russian composers, where Bortkiewicz continued composing, teaching, and managing his career.
Despite the hardships of World War II, Bortkiewicz persisted in composing, creating many piano works during this time. He gained financial stability through a teaching post at the Vienna Conservatory, retiring in 1947 and receiving an honorary pension. Bortkiewicz and his wife were laid to rest in the Vienna Central Cemetery upon their deaths. Known for his romantic and melodic style, Bortkiewicz's compositions drew from the influences of Chopin, Liszt, Skryabin, and Rachmaninoff. His works reflect a distinct blend of professionalism, rich imagination, and melodic prowess that resonates with listeners.
The upheavals of war affected Bortkiewicz's musical legacy, particularly with the confiscation of his works during the Nazi regime and challenges in publishing his compositions posthumously. Rediscovery and publication efforts post-Berlin Wall led to the unveiling of unpublished compositions, shedding light on Bortkiewicz's remarkable oeuvre. A notable work, the Jugoslavische Suite, Op. 58, offers a musical journey through pre-war Yugoslavia, while his Fantasiestücke, Op. 61, presents a diverse emotional landscape in six pieces. Additionally, the Klaviersonate Nr. 2, Op. 60, showcases Bortkiewicz's mature and profound style in a musical summation of his life experiences.