Beethoven anniversary 2020 has officially begun

BTHVN2020 – a unique program with thousands of events.

In 2020 Germany celebrates Ludwig van Beethoven's 250th birthday and shares its festivities with the entire world. But nowhere one can be closer to him as in Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg district where the world's most-played classical composer was born in 1770 and spent the first twenty-two years of his life.

Ludwig van Beethoven's birthplace Bonn was also where the jubilee celebrations have officially begun - on 16 December 2019, one day prior to the composer's 249th baptism day.

Under the umbrella brand BTHVN2020 of the Beethoven Jubiläums GmbH, which coordinates the broad anniversary program, around 300 projects with a thousand individual events are taking place in 2020. In keeping with the motto “Rediscover Beethoven”, modern approaches to Beethoven's oeuvre will be performed in addition to classical concerts – such as exhibitions, talks, public events, flash mobs or DJ beats. Also, a permanent tour with information steles invites you to get to know Beethoven as an individual at 22 authentic places in Bonn and the region.

Malte Boecker, Artistic Director of the non-profit Beethoven Jubiläums GmbH about BTHVN2020: “The diverse program mirrors the anniversary's goal of presenting Beethoven in all his facets, and make him accessible to a wide audience.”

The anniversary year takes place under the patronage of Germany's Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.