Per Aspera ad Astra presents the world-premiere commercial recording of Bortkiewicz’s Rhapsody, Op. 45. Originally commissioned by the legendary one-armed pianist Paul Wittgenstein, this brilliant, continuous set of variations on the folk song Zvonili zvon v Novgorode (“The church bells were ringing in Novgorod”) vanished into history following the composer’s flight from Nazi Berlin in 1933 and was never performed in his lifetime. Rescuing this lost score is a major musicological triumph that restores a vital, deeply personal chapter of Bortkiewicz’s legacy.
Standing alongside it is the composer’s monumental Piano Concerto No. 3, Per aspera ad astra (“Through hardships to the stars”), celebrating the centennial of its 1927 publication and Vienna premiere. Written in the grand virtuoso tradition of Rachmaninoff and Medtner, the concerto unfolds in a single continuous arc, moving from a turbulent C-minor opening through searching lyricism to an ecstatic, radiant conclusion complete with church bells and a triumphant major-key transfiguration. Together, these works reveal a composer whose life was marked by war, revolution, and exile, yet whose music remained expansive, emotionally direct, and richly colored.
Per Aspera ad Astra marks Zhenni Li-Cohen’s debut on PENTATONE and begins a long-term, multi-album partnership with Marin Alsop, with the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien at the centre of this new partnership.
Zhenni Li-Cohen: “When war broke out in Ukraine, I felt a profound need to respond through music. It was then that I discovered Bortkiewicz’s Piano Concerto No. 3, whose extraordinary title, “per aspera ad astra”, uncannily reflected both the tragedy unfolding and the spirit of hope I wished to share. I also learned that his Rhapsody had never appeared on a commercial recording even a century after its inception.
At that moment, I felt a tremendous responsibility to undertake this project; not only because of its artistic beauty, but because it preserves an important historical voice that deserves to be heard again. I was incredibly fortunate that Maestra Alsop saw the potential of this project and placed her trust in it. I will always be immensely grateful to her.
Hearing these scores come alive with the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien for the first time in the recording sessions was overwhelming, surpassing everything I had imagined. At that moment, I felt that Bortkiewicz’s voice had truly come back to life.”
Marin Alsop: “When Zhenni first introduced me to the music of Sergei Bortkiewicz, I was immediately captivated, not only by his musical language, but by the remarkable story behind it. His life was shaped by displacement, upheaval, and resilience, and those experiences are deeply woven into his music. There is an honesty and emotional depth in these works that feels both deeply personal and universally human.
Collaborating with Zhenni and the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien to bring this music to life has been a true pleasure. Zhenni’s conviction and artistry have been instrumental in championing Bortkiewicz’s voice, and I hope this recording encourages more listeners to discover a composer whose music deserves a much wider audience.”
Per Aspera ad Astra will be released digitally and physically on January 8, 2027.
