The piano duo formed by brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen, now both in their thirties, is one of the true phenomena of today's concert stage. Admired by audiences and highly acclaimed by critics, the Dutch brothers have been giving dozens of recitals around the world since childhood. Their artistic maturity and versatility are reflected in an exceptionally wide-ranging repertoire. It includes an extensive selection of works for four hands and for two pianos, written over several centuries by the greatest composers. As a result, each of their concerts becomes an inspiring journey through musical eras, styles and moods.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s most beautiful chorales will lead us into a mood of quiet reflection and quasi-religious contemplation. The universal dimension of German music will also be represented by Johannes Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Haydn. The two Polish accents in the Jussen brothers' recital are Witold Lutosławski’s Variations on a Theme by Paganini and VAN… by the contemporary composer Hanna Kulenty. Written in 2014, the work is, in the composer’s own words, both a tribute to the Dutch monarchy (the House of Orange, for whom it was composed) and to Ludwig van Beethoven.
The second half of the evening belongs to French wit and elegance, and to the distinctly American fusion of classical music and jazz. Gabriel Fauré’s Dolly Suite recalls the collections of piano miniatures for children that were so popular in the nineteenth century. Maurice Ravel’s Introduction et Allegro, originally written for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet, is equally compelling in its two-piano version. Capturing the richness of orchestral sonorities will undoubtedly present a far greater challenge to the performers. In the case of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, the task seems almost impossible, which makes this performance all the more worth hearing.
Grzegorz Zieziula