Rite of Spring with four Hands

Yesterday I have been to a concert at the Robert-Schumann-Saal in Düsseldorf. I heard the amazing brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen playing fourhanded the piano. They are 21 and 25 and certainly exceptional piano players on their own but when they play together it becomes special. Their harmony is a joy to watch and hear!

During the first half yesterday they played pieces by Fauré, Poulenc and Ravel. That was easy listening and fun. During the second half they played Strawinsky‘s „Le sacre du printemps“ (rite of spring), actually the reason for me to go to the concert. I had not yet heard the complete piece that was a scandal at its first performance 1913 when the conductor had to escape through a window and the audience tried to catch him. It was no scandal yesterday instead the brothers got standing ovations for their incredible performance. They played the version for four hands that was written by Strawinsky before the orchestral version and that he played together with Debussy for a private audience. I wonder if that could have been any better than yesterday.

For all who want to get an impression of the Jussen brothers I found a video online where they play Le sacre du printemps.