Beethoven as a Musician

Beethoven’s self-awareness made him a modern individualist. He was radical in his tireless quest for artistic renewal, a man who shunned compromises.

Beethoven’s era was an age of social and cultural upheaval, which also left a mark on his artistic self-image. Although he came from a family of court musicians and sought a court appointment to the end of his days, he lived in Vienna as a freelance artist, with all the attendant benefits and drawbacks. And although musicians before him had been called ‘geniuses’ – especially Beethoven’s assiduous and successful teacher Joseph Haydn – the notion of originality took on an entirely new quality in Beethoven’s case.

Many of Beethoven‘s works are pivotal creations of music history. They also form the heart of the Jubilee programme, as does his impact on generations of composers and performers to the present day. This will be manifest in a large number of world premières.

Central projects of the BTHVN2020 main theme 'Beethoven as a Musician‘ are two Beethoven festivals in 2020 - one in March and another in September, newly commissioned works and world premières as well as jazz, rock, pop and club music with ties to Beethoven.