‘It is like driving a pair of BMWs’, remarked conductor Michael Schønwandt, after directing the Dutch brothers Lucas (29) and Arthur Jussen (26). Despite their young age, they have been part of the international concert world for years and are praised vigorously by both press and audience.
The Jussen brothers have performed with orchestras such as the Boston Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestras, Concertgebouworkest, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, as well as Montréal, Sydney, Singapore and Shanghai Symphony Orchestras. They collaborate with renowned conductors such as Andris Nelsons, Christoph Eschenbach, Iván Fischer, Valery Gergiev, Sir Neville Marriner, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Jaap van Zweden.
In July 2022, the Jussen brothers made their debut at the Tanglewood Festival (USA). Together with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Andris Nelsons, they gave the US premiere of “Anka kuşu” (Phoenix) for piano four-hands and orchestra, written for them by Fazıl Say. In the beginning of the new season, they will tour Europe together with the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Iván Fischer. Guest engagements in 2022/2023 will take them to Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, hr-Sinfonieorchester, WDR Sinfonieorchester and DeutschesSymphonie-Orchester Berlin. They are also “Artists in Residence” with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano. In recitals, the duo can be seen in Berlin, London, Paris, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Essen and Dortmund.
Lucas and Arthur received their first piano lessons in their native town of Hilversum. It became clear quickly that they were great talents. As children, they were already invited to perform for the Dutch Queen Beatrix. First awards at competitions followed shortly. In 2005, the brothers studied in Portugal and Brazil for nearly a year at the invitation of Portuguese master pianist Maria João Pires. During the following years they took lessons from both Pires and two renowned Dutch teachers. Lucas completed his studies with Menahem Pressler in the US and with Dmitri Bashkirov in Madrid. Arthur graduated from the Amsterdam Conservatory, where he studied with Jan Wijn.
Recording exclusively with Deutsche Grammophon since 2010, their debut CD with works by Beethoven received platinum status and was awarded the Edison Klassiek audience award. A Schubert recording and Jeux, a CD dedicated to French piano music, were subsequently released. Their recording of Mozart’s piano concertos KV 365 and KV 242 together with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Sir Neville Marriner reached gold status. The Jussen brothers also recorded Poulenc’s double piano concerto and Saint-Saëns’ ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ with the Concertgebouworkest and Stéphane Denève, as well as concertos and chorales by Bach with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta. On “The Russian Album” (March 2021) they interpret works for two pianos by Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and Arensky. The latest addition to their discography is “Dutch Masters” (April 2022) which is devoted to works by Dutch composers, including a collaboration with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Karina Canellakis. The recording was awarded an Edison Klassiek in the category “Chamber Music” as well as the audience award in September 2022.
Program
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Sonata for two pianos in D major KV 448 (375a)
Allegro con spirito
Andante
Molto Allegro
Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Rondo in A major for piano for four hands D 951 op. 107
Allegro quasi Andantino
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): La Valse. Poème chorégraphique for two pianos
Mouvement de Valse viennoise
***** Intermission *****
Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Six Epigraphes Antiques
Pour invoquer Pan, dieu du vent d’été
Pour un tombeau sans nom
Pour que la nuit soit propice
Pour la danseuse aux crotales
Pour l’Égyptienne
Pour remercier la pluie au matin
Sergej Rachmaninoff (1873-1943): Suite no. 2 (1901) for two pianos op.17
Introduction: Alla marcia
Valse: Presto
Romance: Andantino
Tarantelle