"The Art of Fantasy" Explores the Musical Worlds of Bach and His Sons

The musical legacy of the Bach family will resonate through Seoul Arts Center once again. Pianist Lee Bora, who has been leading the long-term concert project “Sons of Bach,” returns with the series’ third program under the subtitle “The Art of Fantasy.”

Pianist Lee Bora. Photo by G Clef.

Since last year, the “Sons of Bach” series has explored the musical world of Johann Sebastian Bach and his composer sons. Rather than approaching the Bach family merely as a lineage of musicians, the project examines 18th-century musical language, historical performance practice, the evolution of keyboard instruments, and the shifting sensibilities that emerged after Bach’s generation. Through the modern piano stage, Lee Bora revisits and reexamines the family’s musical inheritance.

The program weaves together works by Johann Sebastian Bach and three of his sons: Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Though bound by family, each composer developed a distinctly different musical direction.

The recital opens with Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Capriccio on the Departure of a Beloved Brother in B-flat major, BWV 992,” an early work believed to have been written during the composer’s youth. Structured almost like a narrative, the piece captures the emotions surrounding a farewell, from sorrow and persuasion to the atmosphere of departure itself. The work reveals a lyrical and theatrical side of Bach beyond the strict contrapuntal style for which he is most widely known.

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach’s “Fantasia in D minor, Fk 19” highlights improvisatory flow and freely shifting musical ideas. As Bach’s eldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann was recognized both as a virtuoso keyboard performer and as an original composer. Rather than adhering rigidly to formal structure, the work follows emotional transformation and spontaneous musical development. It is one of the clearest expressions of the sense of “fantasy” Lee Bora seeks to explore throughout the program.

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach’s “Variations on ‘Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman’” reimagines a familiar melody through a series of variations. As the theme continuously transforms, the wit and clarity characteristic of 18th-century keyboard music emerge with elegance.

The program also includes Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s “Keyboard Sonata in F-sharp minor, Wq. 63/6, H.75.” C.P.E. Bach was known for emphasizing abrupt emotional and expressive shifts. The first movement, “Allegro di molto,” drives forward with sharp intensity, while the second movement, “Adagio affettuoso e sostenuto,” unfolds with deep emotional resonance. The final movement, “Fantasia,” disrupts structural stability and embraces imaginative freedom.

The recital concludes with Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903,” often regarded as one of the composer’s most dramatic and liberated keyboard works. The fantasia builds tension through chromatic progression and improvisatory gestures, while the fugue condenses energy within a rigorous structure. Freedom and order, emotion and architecture coexist within the piece’s striking musical design.

Lee Bora graduated at the top of her class from Seoul National University’s College of Music after studying at the Seoul Arts Center Music Academy for Gifted Students, Yewon School, and Seoul Arts High School. She later earned her master’s degree at Seoul National University and completed doctoral coursework at Yonsei University. During her studies, she received the late Professor Oh Jeongju Memorial Scholarship and the Seoul National University Development Fund Scholarship for outstanding performance achievement. Following her first-place victory at the Samick-Seiler Competition, she was also awarded a scholarship from the Samick Cultural Foundation.

Poster for Lee Bora Piano Recital “Sons of Bach Series III: The Art of Fantasy.” Photo by G Clef.

She has built extensive experience on both domestic and international stages, receiving awards at competitions including the ISA Competition, Korea Liszt Competition, Korea Piano Society Competition, and Korea Piano Duo Competition. She also completed programs at the RPPF in the United States, the Brescia Talent Summer in Italy, and the Mozarteum Summer Academy in Austria, while performing in venues across Vienna, Tokyo, Brescia, and Florida.

In Korea, she has appeared in solo and collaborative performances at venues including Kumho Art Hall Yonsei, Sojeon Seorim, Prugio Art Hall, Sammo Art Center, Gallery D’Arte, Samick Art Hall, and Seongnam Arts Center Concert Hall. She studied under Kim Myungjin, Min Kyungsik, Choi Heeyeon, Aviram Reichert, Peter Ovtcharov, and Ahn Jongdo. She currently teaches young musicians through the Heart Piano Scholarship Foundation, Kaywon Arts Middle School, Incheon Arts High School, Chungbuk Arts High School, and Yesung Girls’ High School.

Her recent research has focused on the gap between historical keyboard instruments and the modern piano. The “Sons of Bach” project was selected for the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture Research Project in recognition of its artistic and scholarly value. During the research process, Lee Bora visited the workshop of German instrument maker Christoph Kern to study the structure and acoustic characteristics of 18th-century fortepianos.

Although historical instruments and the modern piano belong to the same keyboard family, their tonal response, resonance, and tactile qualities differ significantly. Through this research, Lee Bora performed and recorded works including C.P.E. Bach’s fantasias and Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” on historical instruments.

Lee Bora Piano Recital “Sons of Bach Series III: The Art of Fantasy” will take place on May 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Inchun Art Hall, Seoul Arts Center.

Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press

* This article was manually prepared as a translated piece and later proofread and reviewed with the assistance of AI.