(Credit: Lucas und Arthur Jussen)

The Salzburg Whitsun Festival has announced a cast change for its Schubertiade on May 29, 2023.

The festival said that “for health reasons, Daniel Barenboim has been forced to cancel his participation in the Schubertiade. The original plan was for Daniel Barenboim to play four-hand piano works by Franz Schubert with Martha Argerich. Therefore, Martha Argerich will not perform at the Schubertiade either.”

As a result, Lucas and Arthur Jussen have agreed to perform the Fantasy in F-minor and the Allegro in A-minor “Lebensstürme” at the Schubertiade – both works for four-hand piano.

Lucas and Arthur Jussen will join a program that includes Artistic Director Cecilia Bartoli performing Schubert songs with Lang Lang while the chorus Il Canto di Orfeo will be led by Gianluca Capuano’s baton. Mélissa Petit will take on the soprano part in the Schubert cantata Mirjams Siegesgesang. Lucas and Arthur Jussen will provide the piano accompaniment for Schubert’s choral songs and the cantata.

However, Argerich and Daniel Barenboim will participate in Hommage to Daniel Barenboim concert.

In a statement, Bartoli said, “After weeks of concern, I was absolutely delighted when I received this reassuring phone call from Daniel Barenboim: ‘Cecilia, I’m on my way to you in Salzburg…’ It is a wonderful gift that Daniel is feeling better, and this will allow us discover the musical presents prepared by Zubin Mehta and his Maggio Musicale Fiorentino with even greater joy during the ‘Homage to Daniel Barenboim’ on Whitsun Monday. These presents include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 performed by Lang Lang, arias sung by Sonya Yoncheva, Plácido Domingo and Rolando Villazón, and Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto, performed by Martha Argerich.”