© Marco Borggreve

‘It is like driving a pair of BMWs’, remarked conductor Michael Schønwandt, after directing the Dutch brothers Lucas (30) 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 Deutsches Symphonie-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.

SEASON 2022/2023

Guido Sant'Anna © Cauê Diniz

Born in 2005 in São Paulo, Brazil, Guido Sant’Anna achieved international acclaim in 2022 when he became the first South American violinist to win the prestigious Fritz Kreisler International Competition. His triumph in Vienna was preceded by another historic achievement in 2018, when he became the first Brazilian violinist invited to the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition in Geneva, winning both the Audience Prize and the Chamber Music Award. His numerous accomplishments have earned him a coveted place on Forbes Brazil’s “30 under 30” 2022 list.

Sant’Anna has performed as soloist both in Brazil and abroad with eminent orchestras; at home he has developed a close connection to the São Paulo State Symphony and Minas Gerais Philharmonic orchestras, establishing himself as a familiar presence to local audiences. In October 2022 he stepped in for Christian Tetzlaff in São Paulo with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, play-conducting Brahms’ violin concerto, receiving rave reviews. For his winning performance at the Fritz Kreisler International Competition, he played with the ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien under Alexander Joel at the Musikverein. Previous collaborations include the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra, Municipal Symphony Orchestra of São Paulo and Symphony Orchestra of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro, with his repertoire featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Ravel. Recital dates include appearances in the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Brazil and Paraguay.

In June 2023 Sant’Anna makes his anticipated Rheingau Musik Festival debut with the hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt under the baton of its Music Director Alain Altinoglu, performing Édouard Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole. His debut in Rheingau will be followed by concerts in his hometown performing Mendelssohn’s violin concerto, with Thierry Fischer conducting the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra. These performances will constitute his debut recording project for the Naxos Records label. Further afield in autumn 2023 Sant’Anna makes his Asian debut, embarking on a recital tour of South Korea. In spring 2025 Guido will join the Neojibá Youth Orchestra of Bahia on a European tour, along with soloists Lucas and Arthur Jussen, under the direction of Ricardo Castro.

Sant’Anna began his violin lessons at the age of five, giving his orchestral debut at the age of seven under the baton of conductor Júlio Medaglia. Aged eight, Guido was a finalist at the Prelúdio Competition, promoted by TV Cultura, São Paulo. He has been a Cultura Artística scholar since 2012, under the guidance of his tutor Elisa Fukuda. Further distinctions include the Graded Outreach Program, a prestigious scholarship for exceptionally gifted Brazilian students at the American School of São Paulo, and his participation at the Perlman Music Program in 2018-19. In 2021 he emerged as the winner of the Young Soloists Competition of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra, and in 2022 he received the Grand Prix 2022 by CONCERTO Magazine.

Guido plays a violin made in 1874 by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, on generous loan from the luthier Marcel Richters.

Guido Sant’Anna has been supported by the KD SCHMID Fellowship Scheme since May 2023.

SEASON 2022/2023