<p>In this episode of <em>The Piano Pod</em>, we are joined by concert pianist <strong>Anna Shelest</strong>.</p><p>Her work spans major orchestral collaborations, recording projects, and repertoire advocacy — but this conversation centers on her latest album <em>A Romantic from Kharkiv; Music of Sergei Bortkiewicz</em> and the deeper artistic and cultural meaning behind it.</p><p>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 <em>Donna Voce</em> 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.</p><p>This episode is sponsored by the <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://www.alexanderbuono.org/">Alexander &amp; Buono Foundation</a>, an organization dedicated to supporting classical musicians through performance opportunities, recordings, and artistic development.</p><p>This episode offers a powerful reflection on rediscovery, cultural heritage, and the role of classical music in today’s world.</p><p>📖 Read the blog (<em>Meet Our Guest</em>): <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://open.substack.com/pub/thepianopod/p/meet-our-guest-anna-shelest-concert?r=2q1iy3&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true">Anna Shelest — Concert Pianist</a></p><p>🎧 Listen to Anna Shelest on <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WZrfkz5agdwF3QLaKotgH?si=HzegZZhjQ82-oHA8PTAYvQ">Spotify</a></p><p>🎬 Explore more video clips on <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=anna+shelest+piano">YouTube</a>💖 Become a VIP Member / Unlock Exclusive Content on <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com">Substack</a></p><p>🎵 Listen to the <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeBrJAY2RQ_uqBAHXTkMwM4nISe9vxvDa">Season 6 Piano Playlist</a></p><p>NOMINATE GUESTS FOR SEASON 7: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://forms.gle/z3Q78dtTBbe5hdYr9">https://forms.gle/z3Q78dtTBbe5hdYr9</a></p><p>📫 Join our <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://thepianopod.substack.com/subscribe">Newsletter</a></p><p>🌐 Visit our <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://thepianopod.com">Website</a></p><p>📱 Follow <em>The Piano Pod</em> on <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://instagram.com/thepianopod">Instagram</a>, <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://facebook.com/thepianopod">Facebook</a>, and <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://tiktok.com/@thepianopod">TikTok</a></p><p>🔗 Access all links via <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://linktr.ee/thepianopod">Linktree</a></p><p>🎧 Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms. Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, artistry, and the future of classical music.</p>