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 7th, with recitals at 18h00 and 19h30. Join us for one concert that evening, or both!

San Sung Aum is an internationally active pianist and chamber musician whose performances have been praised for their expressive depth, artistic sensitivity, and compelling musical communication. Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, she has established an international career as a soloist and collaborator, performing across Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Currently serving as Visiting Assistant Professor of Piano at Denison University, Aum is also the MTNA Competitions Chair for the Missouri Music Teachers Association. She continues to maintain an active performance career as a soloist and chamber musician while pursuing artistic collaborations and new approaches to musical expression.

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Program Note from the Artist:

Fantasy: A Journey Through Musical Imagination

The idea of fantasy in music represents freedom, imagination, and the exploration of new expressive possibilities. This program explores how composers from different eras have transformed musical imagination through their unique voices, from Baroque invention and Classical expression to Romantic drama, spiritual reflection, and contemporary exploration.

I chose these works as a journey through the evolving meaning of fantasy, not only as a musical genre but also as a reflection of human creativity and imagination. Across centuries, composers have used the idea of fantasy to move beyond traditional boundaries, whether through improvisatory gestures, emotional storytelling, spiritual contemplation, or innovative musical structures.

Beginning with Georg Philipp Telemann’s Fantasias, the program opens with the Baroque tradition of musical invention. These works reflect the era’s fascination with improvisation, ornamentation, and the creative possibilities of a single musical idea. They reveal how imagination could flourish within the elegance and structure of Baroque style.

In Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Fantasy in D minor, K. 397, fantasy becomes a more personal and emotional expression. Through contrasting moods and unexpected turns, Mozart reveals a dramatic and introspective side beyond the clarity often associated with the Classical style.

Franz Liszt’s Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi sonata expands the concept of fantasy into a powerful musical narrative. Inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, Liszt transforms literary imagination into a virtuosic and deeply expressive journey for the piano, pushing the instrument toward new expressive possibilities.

Although Arvo Pärt’s Für Alina is not a fantasy in form, its simplicity and spaciousness invite listeners into a world of imagination and contemplation. Through silence, resonance, and carefully placed sounds, Pärt creates an atmosphere where each listener can discover their own inner landscape.

Finally, John Corigliano’s Fantasia on an Ostinato presents a contemporary perspective on fantasy, exploring transformation and creativity through the interaction between repetition and change. Through this work, fantasy becomes a space where familiar ideas can be continuously reimagined.

As a pianist, I am drawn to music that reveals the endless possibilities of imagination and human expression. This program reflects my interest in exploring how composers across different eras have created unique musical worlds, inviting performers and listeners alike to experience the power of curiosity, discovery, and artistic imagination.

Across centuries, this program reveals that fantasy is not only a musical form, but also a way of imagining that allows composers and listeners alike to explore emotions, stories, and worlds beyond the ordinary.