The concerts of the Artist Residency Series are the culmination of the participation of tomorrow’s music stars- young and brilliant pianists who come to the festival to work with the artist faculty of Porto Pianofest and prepare for tours, recordings, important concerts, and to make their art known to the world. Six pianists are chosen, from all continents, to perform in a solo recital and share their unique musical ideas with our welcoming audience in Porto.

This single ticket includes entrance to the full day of Artist Residency Concerts for August 8th, with recitals at 18h00 and 19h30. Join us for one concert that evening, or both!

At 18h00, American-Filipino pianist Stephen Joven-Lee will perform an all Rachmaninoff program, including the iconic Sonata no.2.
At 19h30, Korean pianist In-Ae Ha, will be performing works by Bach, Berg, Bartók, and Beethoven. 

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Program Notes from the Artist:

As a young artist, I believe it is important to explore and develop a wide range of repertoire. In this program, I will be performing works that span from the foundational composer Bach to one of the most important 20th-century composers, Béla Bartók. Bach’s Prelude in B Major, BWV 892, has an uplifting, almost exalting quality, bringing joy and beauty to the listener. The accompanying Fugue features a subject described by Joseph Kerman as the “steps of iron fate,” with a countersubject representing the “passionate wringing of hands.” The fugue concludes with a passionate and glorious ending.

In contrast, Berg’s Piano Sonata Op. 1 presents a completely different sense of tonality. Written in a romantic style and filled with chromaticism, it conveys deep emotional turmoil from within. Beethoven’s Sonata, Op. 110 takes the listener on a spiritual journey. Between the first and last movements—two of the most sublime in his output—Beethoven places a humane touch. The second movement, like a peasant song, expresses Beethoven’s take on humor and life amidst all the tragic passion and profundity. Bartók’s Piano Sonata has a charging rhythmic drive, with folklike aspects in the melody, using the piano more as a percussive instrument and emphasizing harmonic dissonances. I hope the audience will experience the wide range of sounds and emotions in this journey through nearly 200 years of piano music.