Best Bortkiewicz Moments

I think the way Richard Strauss described himself perfectly sums up Bortkiewicz too - “I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer.”

00:00 Jouni Somero - 3 Waltzes, Op. 27 No.3 “La Viennoise”
Probably the most Viennese sounding thing I could think of
00:42 Jouni Somero - 4 Pieces for Piano, Op.3 No.1 “Capriccio”
01:16 Jouni Somero - 7 Preludes, Op.40 No.7
Harmonies straight out of Scriabin
02:27 Jouni Somero - 10 Preludes, Op.33 No.5
03:38 Jouni Somero - 10 Preludes, Op.33 No.7
04:43 Jouni Somero - 10 Preludes, Op.33 No.8
05:49 Jouni Somero - 10 Preludes, Op.33 No.10
Again, the demonic energy here is only matched by Scriabin
07:06 Gamma 1734 - Lyrica Nova, Op.59 No.4
A very warm and optimistic prelude, contrasted with the year of writing 1941
08:28 Piano Concerto No.1, Op.16. 1st mvm. Piano Olga Shadrina, Conductor Mykola Sukach. Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra.
A strong romantic concerto with some very memorable melodies, although at times the development and build up can be a bit crude.
14:41 Russian Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Op.45. Piano Olga Shadrina, Conductor Mykola Sukach. Academic symphony orchestra “Philharmonia", Chernigiv.
Titanic, unmistakably Russian, not a single note was spared.
17:35 Piano Concerto No.2, Op.28 arranged for 2 hands. Piano and arr. Vyacheslav Zubkov. Conductor Mykola Sukach. Academic symphony orchestra “Philharmonia", Chernigiv.
Zubkov’s arrangement for 2 hands is essentially perfect, it's a shame this concerto isn’t performed more often (I personally think its the best out of the 3).
22:13 Piano Concerto No.3, Op.32 “Per Aspera ad Astra.” Piano Stefan Doniga. Conductor David Porcelijn. Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra.
Possibly the brightest finale to any piano concerto.
26:09 Mykola Sukach - Jugoslav Suite Op.58, No.4 “Sparkling Waves - Split”
Easily one of my favourite Bortkiewicz pieces. Reminds me of Liszt’s Liebestraum, though the piece is majestic in its own unique way.
28:43 Mykola Sukach - Jugoslav Suite Op.58, No.5 “Nocturne - Dubrovnik”
Quotes Sparkling Waves at the end.