The article is dedicated to one of the first graduates of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, little known in Russia by Ella Georgievna Shultz-Adaevskaya, a contemporary of the composers The Mighty Bunch and Tchaikovsky. For more than half a century, her versatile activity continued – as a virtuoso pianist, composer (author of two operas and alarge number of chamber vocal, instrumental and choral compositions), as well as a folklorist researcher. Her works on Russian, Slavic, Greek, Italian, Tatar, Estonian, Celtic folklore, published in various musicological publications in different countries, left a noticeable mark on the history of European musical culture in the second half of the 19th century. Due to the circumstances, most of her life passed in Europe, although she always felt (and emphasized this) a Russian musician. The present essay on materials from foreign sources highlights her life and creative path.