Every September, Bonn pays homage to its most famous son with the Beethovenfest. The open-minded attitude of the famous composer is also reflected in the festival program: although Beethoven is of course the focus of the event named after him, the festival organizers come up with a new theme every year that goes beyond the boundaries of his work and highlights Beethoven's influence on Romanticism or the musician Franz Liszt, the co-initiator of the first Bonn Beethovenfest.
Festival with a far-reaching history
The festival, which has since gained a worldwide reputation, has been in existence since 1845. The occasion for the celebrations was Beethoven's birthday. He would have been 75 years old this year had he not died in 1827. The festival has existed in its current form since 1999, concentrating on four weeks in the fall.
In addition to Beethoven's sonatas, string quartets and symphonies in exceptional interpretations, special attention is paid to supporting contemporary music. Every year, the Beethovenfest therefore commissions compositions and premieres numerous works.
In total, the festival offers over 80 concerts at more than 25 venues every year. In addition to the stages in the Old Town and, of course, the Beethoven House as the composer's birthplace, these also include romantic venues, castles and churches in the surrounding area.
Performers regularly include the stars of the current classical music scene. Many of them create programs exclusively for the Bonn audience that relate to the theme of the season.
Since 2022, the director of the Beethovenfest Bonn has been Steven Walter. The young German-American studied cello in Oslo and Detmold and founded the "Podium" festival in Esslingen in 2009, which has since developed into a major European music festival. He is regarded as a musical visionary and exceptional talent.
