Dutch pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen to perform in NSO’s opening concert

The National Symphony Orchestra will kick off the second half of its 2023-2024 season on Sept. 17. The opening concert will feature performances by Dutch piano sensations Lucas and Arthur Jussen and the National Symphony Orchestra. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a sneak peek.
Dutch piano sensations Lucas and Arthur Jussen have performed with world-renowned orchestras including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra. Now the brothers are in Taipei, to perform with the National Symphony Orchestra. Celebrated German conductor Jun Markl, who became the National Symphony Orchestra’s music director in January 2022, will conduct the performance.
Lucas Jussen
Pianist
We are playing two pieces that are very French-inspired. One is the double concerto from Francis Poulenc. It is a very happy and energetic piece perfect for a season opening if you ask me. The other piece we are playing is a piece by Toru Takemitsu, a rather modern piece but with a lot of impressionistic details in it as well because it is based on La Mer from Claude Debussy. I think it is very nice to combine a more old traditional classical piece with a new style. Also, for the audience because they hear both the styles.
Arthur Jussen
Pianist
We are so happy to be here in Taipei to play with the wonderful orchestra and the maestro. We look forward so much because a few years ago we were in Kaohsiung. It was a great experience. The people were so warm to us and so welcoming. We felt so at home although we were on the other side of the world. We look forward hugely to come back here and we are looking forward to the concert.
National Symphony Orchestra’s music director Jun Markl says the upcoming concerts for the 2023-2024 season will focus on music from Eastern Europe and nature.
Jun Markl
NSO music director
You can expect a lot of more of the great orchestral works, not only by Richard Strauss but by other composers next week. We focus more on Eastern Europe. We get a lot of the great soloists of the world. We have a series we called “The Great Violin Concerto.” Some of the very fine soloists for the wonderful first-class violin concertos like Mendelssohn, like Brahms, like Beethoven.
NSO’s first concert for this season will kick off on Sept. 17 at the National Concert Hall in Taipei.
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