Bonn and Ludwig van Beethoven are inextricably linked. The city's great son and his music are present everywhere, Bonn feels closely connected to him and committed to his legacy. After all, Beethoven was not only a brilliant artist, but also a passionate advocate of values that are still valid today, such as freedom and fraternity.
Life of the composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (opens in a new tab) (1770-1827) was born into a family of musicians who came from Flemish Brabant. His baptism date is December 17, 1770 and it is assumed that he was born the day before in his parents' home at Bonngasse 20, which today serves as the Beethoven House Museum in Bonn. The great artist died in Vienna on March 26, 1827.
Music was in Beethoven's blood from an early age: his father Johann sang as a tenor in the electoral court chapel, while his grandfather Ludwig was court conductor in Bonn. Initially taught music by his father, he appeared as a musical prodigy at the age of seven and was given a permanent position as court organist at the age of 14.
In 1786, Beethoven traveled to Vienna, where he wanted to take lessons from Mozart. However, it is not known whether the two met. On the way home, he learned of his mother's serious illness, which hastened his return to Bonn, as his father was an alcoholic and could no longer care for his children. Beethoven's mother died in 1787 and her grave is in the Old Cemetery in Bonn. In 1792, Beethoven returned to Vienna to take lessons. Due to the French occupation of the Rhineland in 1794 and the subsequent disempowerment of his employer, Elector Maximilian Franz, he stayed there permanently.
In the mid-1790s, he began to show signs of hearing impairment, which led to complete deafness but did not prevent him from composing his greatest works. He died in 1827. His grave is in Vienna's Central Cemetery.
Work and personality
His radical and visionary musical creativity made Beethoven immortal. Beethoven's works have stood the test of time and are part of humanity's cultural heritage. They enjoy unbroken, worldwide popularity - and not just among classical music fans. Almost everyone knows "Für Elise" or the Fifth Symphony.
The composer himself would certainly have been proud that the fourth movement of his Symphony No. 9 with the text of Schiller's "Ode to Joy" became the anthem of a united Europe. After all, he was a liberal spirit and felt committed to high moral values. Since his childhood, his goal was to "serve poor, suffering humanity with my art".
Beethoven in the Bonn cityscape
Beethoven House Bonn
The composer's birthplace (opens in a new tab) is one of the city's landmarks and welcomes over 100,000 visitors a year. This makes it one of the most popular musicians' houses in the world. The house at Bonngasse 20 conveys how the Beethoven family once lived and provides insights into the composer's work. To mark Beethoven's 250th birthday in 2020, the permanent exhibition was redesigned with informative and emotional approaches to the more than 200 impressive exhibits. The exhibits come from the world's largest Beethoven collection, which is held by the Beethoven-Verein as the museum's sponsor. In addition, changing themed exhibitions and internet exhibitions provide in-depth insights into Beethoven.
The Beethoven-Haus (opens in a new tab) has an extensive digital archive that interested experts and laypeople can use free of charge. The archive contains interlinked image, text and audio information that allows visitors to experience Beethoven's life and work through multimedia. The Beethoven-Haus is also a research center and houses a library, a publishing house and a modern chamber music hall whose acoustics are just as impressive as its design. The BTHVN-WOCHE chamber music festival has been held here every year since 2015.
Beethoven Orchester Bonn
Bonn's undisputed most prominent musical ambassador is the Beethoven Orchester Bonn (opens in a new tab) (BOB), which, as the "successor" to the court orchestra from Beethoven's time, carries his music out into the whole world and thus contributes to Bonn's reputation. The orchestra, headed by Dirk Kaftan as General Music Director since 2017, is also a formative element of musical life in Bonn and the region with its often award-winning performances. Among other things, the BOB won the 2021 European Culture Prize for "its participatory concepts and the aspiration to set out for new musical shores with the audience and its namesake Beethoven".
The orchestra is based in the Beethovenhalle, which dates back to 1959. The hall was extended in 1996/1997, but required extensive modernization and energy efficiency measures, which is why it is currently undergoing renovation.
However, the Beethoven Orchestra is not only committed to keeping Beethoven's musical legacy alive internationally. It was also named a United Nations Climate Change Goodwill Ambassador by the UN Climate Change Secretariat in 2021 and is committed to implementing the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Beethoven Festival
The Bonn Beethoven Festival (opens in a new tab), which takes place every fall, also meets with a great international response. Founded in 1845 by Franz Liszt, it is one of the oldest and most renowned music festivals in Germany. It owes its importance as a cultural beacon to an extensive program of around 90 events in Bonn and the region, featuring prominent ensembles and top international orchestras as well as important soloists and young musical talents. The repertoire ranges from classical to avant-garde.
Steven Walter has been the festival's artistic director since 2021. He has repositioned it as a festival in which Beethoven's work meets the diverse world of the 21st century - as a celebration of musical diversity, a coming together of different origins and identities in the common home of music.
International Telekom Beethoven Competition
Another musical Beethoven highlight is the biennial piano competition (opens in a new tab), which was launched by Deutsche Telekom AG in 2005. Pianists aged between 18 and 32 from all over the world can apply. From the applications, 28 participants are selected to present their skills in four rounds of the competition at Deutsche Telekom headquarters. An international jury of top-class experts will then select three winners.
The central aim of the competition is to promote exceptional young talent and to help keep Beethoven's great legacy alive in his home city. Many of the concerts at Telekom are free for all interested parties.
Beethoven tour
The Beethoven tour (opens in a new tab) allows you to follow in Beethoven's footsteps. It is divided into two different worlds of experience: The BTHVN-STORY provides a picture of the young Beethoven in his immediate Bonn environment at eleven stations. A further eleven stations in the BTHVN REGION take you to places of interest and into nature. Whether you visit all 22 stations or select individual points of interest, you will get to know the composer better at authentic places in his life. The accompanying smartphone app offers further stories.
Beethoven monument in Bonn
There are several monuments to the great artist in the cityscape. In a central location on Münsterplatz, Beethoven has been watching over events in the city center since 1845. With the old post office in the background, it is now a popular photo motif for selfies during a stroll through the city. The monument was erected on the occasion of the first Beethoven Festival and to commemorate his 75th birthday. This was preceded by years of commitment from the citizens of Bonn - especially Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt.
Four other very differently designed statues in Bonn, which were created in different decades of the 20th century, are dedicated to the memory of the city's great son.