In a massive artistic coup for the national capital, the most in-demand piano duo of a generation is landing in Canberra for their first major Australian tour, fresh off performing at London’s Royal Albert Hall for the legendary BBC Proms.

The arrival of Dutch brothers Arthur and Lucas Jussen — widely regarded as the most famous classical musicians to ever emerge from Holland — marks a monumental shift for local audiences, according to Snow Concert Hall Artistic Director Ana de la Vega.

“It’s so exciting to welcome the Jussens to Australia, and the fact that they’re performing in Canberra is especially satisfying,” she says.

“Normally, artists like this travel exclusively to Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane. Having them in our backyard, it feels like the vision we had for Snow Concert Hall three years ago has come to life.”

But it’s not only the location that has music lovers buzzing — it’s the almost mythic connection we’re about to witness.

What makes the Jussens one of the world’s most captivating duos isn’t just their extraordinary technique.

“They are celebrated for having an almost telepathic musical bond, the kind that only comes from performing together since childhood,” Ana says.

There’s an inevitability to that connection. Raised by musician parents, both brothers started playing at age five and, from Arthur’s very first keystrokes, always together.

“I would always listen to my parents and Lucas practising together, and from the first moments, I knew I also wanted to play, wanted to follow my big brother,” Arthur says.

“We never really decided, ‘We’re going to become a duo’ … We had the same piano teacher, we lived in the same house, so she said, ‘Why don’t you play together?’

“It felt very natural, and I think the beautiful thing was that we enjoyed very much making music together, to sit side by side behind the piano and create these beautiful sounds.”

Side by side, the brothers grew into a global phenomenon.

“They have cultivated an unbelievable symbiosis that makes them so magnetic and just astounds audiences,” Ana says.

The Jussens performed at BBC Proms under the baton of conductor Kazuki Yamada. Photo: BBC Proms/ Chris Christodoulou.

The Jussens were accompanied by CBSO Chorus, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Photo: BBC Proms/ Chris Christodoulou.

The brothers are celebrated for having an almost “telepathic” musical bond. Photo: Sanja Marusic.

The Jussens have performed internationally since debuting at ages 10 and 13 in Amsterdam’s prestigious Concertgebouw.

While they made a whirlwind trip to Sydney eight years ago, travelling with the Dutch royal family to perform at the Sydney Opera House, this marks their first full Australian tour.

Crucially, while their other Australian dates feature grand orchestras, their Snow Concert Hall performance offers a rare 90-minute intimate recital.

“This is not just any concert. It’s a chance to experience two world-leading pianists perform a magnificent program together in an intimate hall where every nuance can be heard without the cover of an orchestra,” Ana says.

The program pairs the delicacy of Mozart with the dramatic intensity of Schubert, before building to Mendelssohn and a four-hands arrangement of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, performed with a unique twist.

“A four-hand work is most often played on two instruments; here we will have four hands on one instrument,” Ana explains.

“They’ll be playing on a stunning Steinway Model D that the late great Terry Snow and I managed to get for the hall. A piano needs to match its hall, and this one is perfect for Snow Concert Hall. We’ve never had four hands on it, and hearing what comes out of it in the hands of the Jussens will be very exciting.”

The Jussens are known for their seamless versatility. Audiences never know who will take the upper or lower register, or lead on piano one versus piano two.

But even after decades together, Lucas notes audiences can still expect genuine surprises on stage.

“Things happen that weren’t planned, and this might sound a little strange, but sometimes those are the nicest moments,” Lucas says.

“Out of something that initially feels like a mistake, something can happen musically that’s actually very nice. We are not perfect … So every concert is different and spontaneous, and I think it should be that way.”

Ultimately, the hope is audiences will be able to close their eyes and hear what sounds like the skill of two artists rolled into one.

“When we play together, I’m listening to Lucas literally every millisecond, and I try to feel where he wants to go, what he wants to do, how he plays, his tone,” Arthur says.

“There can be no ego when we play together … Sometimes I follow Lucas, sometimes he follows me, and the will to adapt to each other is very important.”

Lucas & Arthur Jussen perform at the Snow Concert Hall on Friday, 28 August, at 7 pm.