Semifinals in Chamber Music Recital Format with Free Admission in the New Edition
From June 20 to 28, 2025, Porto will host pianists from over twenty nationalities, affirming itself as a major stage for the new generation of pianists worldwide.
Over the course of a week, the city will come alive with public auditions, concerts, and a celebratory atmosphere centered around music, as part of one of Europe’s most prestigious competitions: the Santa Cecília International Piano Competition (CISC).
This edition of CISC pays tribute to Ernestina Silva Monteiro — a key figure in Portuguese music education and co-founder of the Curso Silva Monteiro — highlighting both the legacy of women in music and music as a universal language of dialogue and tolerance. This focus is also reflected in the international jury, composed of renowned pianists and pedagogues: Dina Yoffe (Germany/Israel), Grace Chung (Taiwan), Jill Lawson (Portugal/USA), Katarina Krpan (Croatia), Natalia Troull (Russia), Sofia Cabruja (Spain), and Svetlana Eganian (Russia/France).
The main category kicks off on Friday, June 20 at 6 PM, with a free opening concert at the Eng. António de Almeida Foundation, featuring Zhexiang Li — winner of the previous edition — and the presentation of his new album.
The preliminary rounds follow (June 21–24, at Sala 2 of Casa da Música), also free and open to the public, from 10 AM to 1:30 PM and again from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, with access between each competitor’s performance.
A major highlight takes place on Thursday, June 26 at 2 PM, with the semifinals in the form of a chamber music recital, free entry in Sala Suggia. The semifinalists will be accompanied by soloists from the Casa da Música Porto Symphony Orchestra — Álvaro Pereira (Violin I), Ana Madalena Ribeiro (Violin II), Mateusz Stasto (Viola), and Nikolai Gimaletdinov (Cello) — in a unique moment of artistic excellence and collaboration, performing works by Brahms, Fauré, Dvořák, Franck, and Schumann.
The final takes place on Saturday, June 28 at 6 PM, also in Sala Suggia, with the three remaining finalists accompanied by the Casa da Música Porto Symphony Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor, Brazilian maestro Roberto Tibiriçá.
Beyond the competition rounds, Itinerant Piano brings music to iconic venues throughout Porto — such as the Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão, Casa do Infante, and the Romantic Museum — bringing the piano closer to new audiences and contexts.
From June 20 to 28, Porto once again becomes the piano capital, in an edition that promises emotion, artistic excellence, and the rise of new international stars.
The junior category will take place from July 15 to 19.