Anna Shelest
Hailed by The New York Times as a pianist of “a fiery sensibility and warm touch,” Anna Shelest is an international award-winning artist who has thrilled audiences throughout the world.
A champion of esoteric repertoire, since 2017 she has been collaborating with the legendary conductor Neeme Järvi to record rare works for piano and orchestra. Their complete set of Anton Rubinstein’s piano concerti has been released to great acclaim, praised by the American Record Guide as “Easily the top choices now for these two concertos [Nos. #1 & #2]” and Gramophone for “power and agility, effortless effect, nuanced and incisive all round [#4 and Caprice Russe].
The 2019 release of Donna Voce, a survey of music by women composers from the last three centuries, has become Anna’s ongoing musical project that includes live performances, lectures and videos, as well as a sequel albums- Donna Voce II featuring Fanny Mendelssohn’s monumental piano cycle Das Jahr (“The Year”) and Donna Voce III: Concerti.
Anna Shelest on
The Piano Pod Podcast
In their latest episode, now available on all streaming platforms and YouTube, The Piano Pod sat down with Anna whose work asks us to listen again to composers history left behind.
This episode explores:
Her journey from Kharkiv to New York, and the pedagogical legacy of her hometown
Why she champions neglected composers — and what that responsibility means in a time of war
Her acclaimed recordings of Anton Rubinstein's piano concertos with legendary conductor Neeme Järvi
The ongoing Donna Voce series, celebrating women composers across centuries
Duo collaboration, modern audiences, and the artistic dialogue she shares with her husband, pianist Dmitri Shelest
An early preview of the Shelest Piano Duo's upcoming Carnegie Hall appearance, presented by the Alexander & Buono Foundation
About The Piano Pod: The Piano Pod is an award- winning international podcast and media platform founded by Yukimi Song, Pianist, entrepreneur, award-winning educator, and writer. Reaching listeners in more than 80 countries, it has garnered thousands of downloads and a growing global subscriber base across audio and video channels. Beyond digital reach, the platform has meaningful real-world impact through live events, artist engagement, and community building—including its successful live show last October. The show features conversations with Grammy winners, Steinway Artists, notable composers, world-class pedagogues, arts leaders, and cultural voices shaping the future of classical music. This season celebrates creativity and connection—exploring how tradition, innovation, identity, and entrepreneurship are bringing new energy to the modern classical music landscape. https://thepianopod.com
Latest Recording
Anna Shelest, piano,
Neeme Järvi, conductor,
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra,
This deeply personal attitude toward Romanticism encapsulates
the artistic philosophy that sustained Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877–1952) through the turbulent tides of the early 20th century: the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the unrelenting horrors of the Second World War. Anchored in a deep sense of nostalgia, his works evoke a world imbued with dreams and elegance—a stark contrast to the chaos that surrounded him. The composer’s life and career reflect the multiethnic, multilingual, and politically complex tapestries of Ukraine during his time.
This album is dedicated to the city of Kharkiv—the hometown of both the composer and the pianist featured on this recording.
A Romantic from Kharkiv
Music of Sergei Bortkiewicz
Piano Concerto No. 1
One Thousand and One Nights
“…fiery sensibility
and warm touch”
“…power and agility…
effortless effect… nuanced and incisive all round.”
The Shelests
at Carnegie Hall
(October 2026)
Keep an eye out on social media and future newsletters for more details about the Shelest Piano Duo's upcoming Carnegie Hall.