In the study of the iconic figure of S. Bortkiewicz for Ukrainian culture, there is still a certain discrepancy between the real scale of the personality of a prominent figure in the field of Ukrainian musical art and the level of awareness about him. In art history and philosophical and cultural discourse, the issue of complex analysis of the artist’s creative activity and his piano works in the concert space of the 20 – early 21st century has not yet been studied.
During S. Bortkiewicz’s life his works were often performed in concert halls of Europe, art programs of European and American radio stations. Their undeniable triumph is evidenced by the numerous positive reviews of critics in the periodicals of the time, impressions of the concerts and memories of them, preserved in private correspondence and other archival documents of different countries. Interest in the artist’s work was strengthened by his own, author’s concert activity: first as a pianist-virtuoso, and later – as a composer-performer and conductor. S. Bortkiewicz’s tours covered Austria, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and other European countries. After the First World War he performed as a guest conductor with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Czech and Silesian Philharmonic Orchestras, the Grand Symphony Orchestra of the Vienna Radio RAVAG, and other groups.
Each section of the dissertation deals with a relatively closed circle of issues related to the fate of S. Bortkiewicz’s creative heritage. An attempt is made to explain the reasons for the displacement of his music to the periphery of the European cultural space. Particular attention is paid to the review of archival documents and scientific research from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day. The conditions for the formation of the creative personality of the composer are considered, the chronology of his concert and teaching activities is compiled. An overview of the performance of his music by pianists from different countries of the world is given. A large amount of German, Austrian, Dutch, French, American, Brazilian, Australian, Filipino periodicals was involved, in which unique information about the composer was discovered, new facts of his life and creative activity were revealed, set out in the dissertation and appendices. It also provides information on the performance of the composer's piano works in concerts by pianists from around the world.
