Music As Witness feat. Concert Pianist, Anna Shelest

Music As Witness feat. Concert Pianist, Anna Shelest

From The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music by Yukimi Song

May 5, 2026 · 1h 49m · Season 6 · Episode 17

About this episode

This episode features concert pianist Anna Shelest discussing her latest album and the cultural significance of music as a form of testimony.

In this episode of The Piano Pod , we are joined by concert pianist Anna Shelest . Her work spans major orchestral collaborations, recording projects, and repertoire advocacy — but this conversation centers on her latest album A Romantic from Kharkiv; Music of Sergei Bortkiewicz and the deeper artistic and cultural meaning behind it. Together, we explore how music becomes a form of testimony — shaped by memory, identity, and history — and how Shelest’s connection to Kharkiv, Ukraine informs her interpretation of Bortkiewicz’s music. We also discuss her Donna Voce project, her collaboration with conductor Neeme Järvi on Anton Rubinstein’s piano concertos, and her work as part of the Shelest Piano Duo with her husband, Dmitri Shelest. This episode is sponsored by the Alexander & Buono Foundation , an organization dedicated to supporting classical musicians through performance opportunities, recordings, and artistic development. This episode offers a powerful reflection on rediscovery, cultural heritage, and the role of classical music in today’s world. 📖 Read the blog ( Meet Our Guest ): Anna Shelest — Concert Pianist 🎧 Listen to Anna Shelest on Spotify 🎬 Explore more video…

People in this episode

Host: Yukimi Song

Guest: Anna Shelest

Topics covered

  • music as testimony
  • cultural heritage
  • classical music
  • artistic interpretation
  • memory and identity
  • piano collaborations

Keywords

  • classical piano
  • Anna Shelest
  • Bortkiewicz
  • Kharkiv
  • music and identity
  • Alexander & Buono Foundation
  • piano duo

Sponsors

Alexander & Buono Foundation

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: A Romantic from Kharkiv, Anton Rubinstein’s piano concertos, Music of Sergei Bortkiewicz

More episodes of The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Piano Pod - a global hub for innovation, education, and connection in classical piano music podcast page.