How about Schubert's Fantasie in F Minor:
The duo - I want to call them boys because I've seen them perform as child prodigies and once you've been wowed by a kid at the keyboard, it's hard to shake the image even though they are now fully grown - the two look enough alike in this video to make you think they might be twins, but they aren't, and normally you see the clear differences. Lucas is three years older than Arthur, and Arthur is the taller of the two. Lucas will be 28 in February, and Arthur will be 25 in September, so they are more than three and a half years apart. But they make such a beautiful team whether they are playing one piano, four hands, or two-piano duets, that it's easy to think of them as a single unit. They also play solo but they have said in interviews that they prefer playing together.
It says something wonderful about the Dutch that their culture has brought forward the likes of these guys and their parents. Disciplined and dedicated to their profession as musicians, they are obviously healthy, handsome young men who have a normal social life and a variety of interests beyond music. Lucas loves soccer and likes to razz the Germans about the superiority of the Dutch national soccer team. They fit the image of talented youth fortunate in being born to two parents who knew how to mentor them when it counted. The boys gave their first major concert at the ages of 10 and 13 and signed a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon in March of 2010. The "Russian Album" just out is their seventh album with Deutsche Grammophon. Lucas has studied in the U.S. and Spain and is Artist in Residence of the Dutch Chamber Orchestra (See the Chopin Concerto No. 1 listed below). Arthur has studied at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.
The brothers have played with nearly all the Dutch orchestras, as well as with the symphony orchestras of Boston, Philadelphia, Montreal, Sydney, Singapore, and Shanghai. They inspire effusive praise; Michael Schønwandt compared directing them to "driving two BMWs at the same time.". One reviewer described them as "Zauberbrüder" - magical brothers, who leave you with the feeling you have just heard a piano played by a single person with four hands. Their friend, the pianist Fazil Say composed a wild modernistic piece for them three years ago called "Night."
Because they are by nature social beings, they're finding it particularly difficult during the Covid crisis not to be able to play in front of an audience. Lucas has said that he feels their audience is always rooting for them, giving them encouragement, and that's something he really misses. Some artists are happy to play from their living rooms, but Lucas insists it's not the same thing. When they meet the public after a concert, it's not the signing that they enjoy, he says, it's the interaction with people. They are the very antithesis of reclusive artists living in gloom and wanting to bury themselves in their work. They thrive on human contact and interaction.Mendelssohn: Andante & Allegro Brillante
There's a great video of the two of them in an English-language interview where they are playing "which would you rather, x or y." You can see their love of life. You can also see how remarkably they seem to be on the same wave length most of the time. I can't imagine having a sibling and not wanting to have this kind of relationship with them. They could be putting on a show for PR purposes - I seriously doubt they could be faking it - but I seriously doubt it. Watching them for even five minutes makes you wonder how people this young could have this kind of self-confidence, wisdom, charm and congeniality all rolled into one.
Mozart: Double Piano Concerto in E-flat Major (K365)
and don't miss the wonderful encore piece, "Sinfonia 40" following this concert, which starts at about minute 25:15. It is a piece by the Italian pianist Igor Roma, a jazz variation on Mozart's 40th Symphony (K550). Can't verify this, but one commenter says it was written for the Jussen Brothers. It's also available directly, on a separate YouTube video. What a perfect encore gift to an audience that comes to hear a Mozart Concert. A takeoff on Mozart's familiar "Great G-minor Symphony." Pure joy!Germany created a Society for the Advance of Classical Music (Verein zur Förderung der Klassischen Musik) in 2018. The award went to the Jussen Brothers, who followed up with a performance of
Bizet's "Jeux d'Enfants" (Games for Children) - The brothers are clearly having a ball.
Fauré: Dolly Suite for piano four hands
One of my favorite pieces of music for four hands is the Poulenc Concerto for two pianos and orchestra, played by Alexander Malofeev and Sandro Nebieridze. Up till now I've only heard it played by these two guys. Turns out the Jussen Brothers do a magnificent version of it, as well.
Stravinsky: Sacre du Printemps - I'm not a fan of Stravinsky, but it shows the range Lucas and Arthur are capable of.
Debussy: Six Épigraphes Antiques
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