Around 30 artists, 11 of them making their absolute debut in Portugal, made the 9th edition of Porto Pianofest the most attended of all time.
The festival reached more than 2,200 spectators, an increase of around 10% compared to the previous edition. 20,000 spectators were also added to the Piano Marathon, which took eight hours of music to the Bolhão Market, performed by 25 musicians and piano students.
11 emblematic locations in Porto, Matosinhos and Famalicão hosted the 23 concerts, conferences and masterclasses of the 9th edition of Porto Pianofest, which took place from the 1st to the 11th of August. Established artists and new national and international talents performed more than 90 musical pieces that attracted the public to rooms such as the Casa da Música, Palácio da Bolsa, Rectory of the University of Porto or Museu do Romântico.
“We felt a growing audience throughout the program, which gives us very positive signs about the impact of Porto Pianofest. The message that classical music is close to people and available to everyone is passed on to spectators throughout the days of the festival”, says Nuno Marques, Director of Porto Pianofest and also a pianist.
Proof of the public’s support was the sold-out performances, particularly the closing concert at Palácio da Bolsa with Swiss pianist and composer Beatrice Berrut. The artist debuted in Portugal, as did 10 other names that were part of the program. There were also six artists making their debut in Porto.
Still, in the premieres, eight Portuguese musical works were presented to the public for the first time. Among them, are those from “Projeto Mensagem”, an anthology of Portuguese literature performed by the voice of soprano Lara Martins and by Nuno Marques, on the piano.
This presentation, in the Pátio da Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro, was one of the most popular of the festival, alongside the concert by José Ramón Mendez, at the Rectory of the University of Porto, and presentations at the Museu do Romântico which, according to the Director of Porto Pianofest, exceeded “all public expectations”. In the latter location, the lunchtime concerts, with free entry, were sold out and the performance “Bach in the Garden” by pianist Evan Shinners had the audience stretching throughout the garden, well beyond the seating capacity.
Along with the concerts, the Porto Pianofest teaching programs also ended with a positive result. 22 national and international musicians took part in artistic residencies and masterclasses, totalling 75 hours dedicated to studying the piano.
The result of the 9th edition raises expectations for the first decade that Porto Pianofest marks in 2025. “It will be a celebratory edition and, for that reason alone, it will be special, but we do not want to forget the essence of this festival: democratizing classical music and allowing that, through it, the public (re)discovers unique places and rooms”, says the Director of Porto Pianofest, a festival that this year had the support of Turismo de Portugal.
About the festival:
Porto Pianofest is an international festival that, since its first edition in 2016, has strengthened the city of Porto as a cultural destination. Created by Nuno Marques, pianist-composer and artistic director, in collaboration with American pianist-composer Mariel Mayz, the festival’s main objective is to bring internationally renowned artists to various concerts held in emblematic locations in the city, thus democratizing music classics.
The international festival not only celebrates music but also promotes global artistic dialogue by providing an educational experience through training, masterclasses and concerts by hand-picked, talented students. With a high-quality artistic faculty, Porto Pianofest stands out for presenting both established artists and future stars in the world of music. Over the years, the festival has had the support of prestigious institutions such as the Porto Music Conservatory, Casa da Música and the University of Porto, as well as the sponsorship of the Porto City Council and the High Patrocínio of the President of the Republic.
Furthermore, it has the support of partners such as Palácio da Bolsa, the Porto Commercial Association, and Turismo de Portugal, among others. Over the various editions, the festival has presented an impressive list of artists, including names such as Clarice Assad, Jean Saulnier, José Ramón Méndez, Alexander Kobrin, Olga Prats, Artur Pizarro, Judith Jauregui, among others.
These presentntações internacionais são possíveis graças ao apoio de entidades como a Fundação Luso Americana, a Embaixada Portuguesa em Washington DC e a AICEP. O Porto Pianofest continua a afirmar-se como um dos eventos culturais mais importantes da cidade, enriquecendo o âmbito musical do Porto e proporcionando experiências inesquecíveis para todos os visitam e acompanham o festival.
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