Mercado do Bolhão hosted, this past Thursday, July 30th, the piano marathon that traditionally marks the start of Porto Piano Fest. The event, held for the fourth time in that space, brought together around 25 pianists of various ages, two days before the official opening of the festival's 11th edition, which runs from August 1st to 11th.
According to Nuno Marques, director and co-founder of Porto Piano Fest, this marathon serves as an "activation" of the festival for the Porto public. For him, "bringing music to Bolhão is a way of leaving the traditional concert hall behind and going directly to meet people."
The initiative brought together pianists between the ages of seven and forty-five, coming not only from Porto but also from Braga, Viana do Castelo, and Espinho, among other locations.
For Nuno Marques, giving younger performers a stage is just as important as showcasing more experienced pianists. "The piano isn't meant only for the serious pianist who plays intensely — it can also be an instrument that gives kids a stage and a way to express themselves."
The festival will feature concerts spread across four cities: Porto, Matosinhos, Vila do Conde, and also Régua, which this year joins the festival for the first time as an extension into the Douro region.
For the festival's director, the ultimate goal is for culture to be felt as something that belongs to everyone, rather than something placed "on a pedestal," removed from people's daily lives.
