Katia & Marielle Labèque play Glass

In the world of DC Comics, ‘Metropolis’ stands as one of the largest and wealthiest. In the 1980s, the American composer Michael Daugherty dedicated a symphony in five movements to it. The first movement of this Metropolis Symphony – ‘Lex’ – takes its name from Superman's archnemesis, Lex Luthor, an industrial magnate. In this movement, a devilishly fast solo violin is pursued by the orchestra, which also features four referee whistles.

Following a new composition by the Canadian Keiko Devaux commissioned by Ars Musica, we welcome to the stage the renowned Labèque sisters – Katia and Marielle – who will perform Philip Glass' Double Piano Concerto, a piece that the American composer specifically composed for them in 2015. Its premiere took place under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Play, a composition written by the American composer Andrew Norman, born in 1979, has been hailed many times as the most masterful orchestral work of the 21st century. The Belgian National Orchestra, conducted by Antony Hermus, presents the first movement – or more precisely, the first level – of this sparkling virtuosic composition. "Play explores the ideas of choice, chance, free will and control," Andrew Norman once said, "but also the physicality and pleasure of playing instruments".

The metropolis also deeply impressed composers Charles Ives and George Gershwin. The former's Central Park in the Dark depicts a warm summer night in New York's Central Park, while George Gershwin's An American in Paris is a musical impression of his visit to Paris in 1928.

In collaboration with Ars Musica.

Created with the support of the Belgian Tax Shelter through Casa Kafka Pictures.