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A painting of composer Ludwig van Beethoven from 1804
Image: picture-alliance/akgImage: picture-alliance/akg

Ludwig van Beethoven

The German composer (1770-1827) is one of the most influential composers of all time and played an important role in the transition from the Classical to Romantic eras in European classical music.

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All Content on this topic

Portrait of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, dated around 1805.

How Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' became EU anthem

Since 1972, the finale of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony has been the anthem of the European Community and the EU.
MusicJune 7, 2024
Ludwig van Beethoven, seen in a sketch

What makes Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' so special?

Through music, the "Anthem of Europe" stands for stated European values like freedom, peace and solidarity.
MusicJune 7, 202404:35 min
Manuscript of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony: 200 years on

With his Ninth Symphony, first performed in 1824, Ludwig van Beethoven created a work for the ages.
MusicMay 6, 2024
Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven

Jokes and a 'curse' at the 2023 Beethoven Festival

This DW Festival Concert features Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 9, as well as a piano concerto by Beethoven.
MusicDecember 13, 2023
Cellist Sol Gabetta

Radiant cellist Sol Gabetta

A captivating stage presence and a warm sound – the extraordinary cellist from Argentina.
MusicNovember 4, 202308:31 min
Musicians sit with their instruments in a darkened room

Afghan musicians play where Taliban can't hear them

Many musicians fled after the Taliban imposed put a strict ban on music when they seized power over two years ago.
MusicSeptember 14, 202302:37 min
A young woman wearing a black and white top, identified as Russian cellist Anastasia Kobekina, holds a cello up in the air.

Beethovenfest 2023: Bold, like Beethoven himself

70 concerts, 30 venues and an orchestra foundation: The Bonn festival runs under the motto "Music about life."
MusicSeptember 1, 2023
DW Arts Unveiled (Sendungslogo Composite)

Highlights from the 2023 Bonn Opera Gala

The 11th Bonn Opera Gala features up and coming talents and famous arias.
CultureJune 10, 202326:06 min
The Viennese Beethoven Monument

Unlocking the code to Beethoven's life through his hair

Beethoven's DNA reveals a lot, but by no means everything. Hair that was supposed to be his was actually from a woman.
CultureMarch 30, 2023
A lock of Ludwig van Beethoven is presented at the Beethoven Haus in Bonn, Germany, that were used to sequence the genome of the world famous composer .

DNA from Beethoven's hair yields clues to what made him ill

Researchers have sequenced Beethoven's genome to shed light on the mystery of the composer's fragile health.
ScienceMarch 23, 202302:00 min
A portrait painting of Ludwig van Beethoven by Joseph Karl Stieler

Beethoven: Locks of hair give new clues on composer's health

Researchers have managed to pull strands of DNA from Beethoven's hair, finding a genetic disposition to liver disease.
MusicMarch 22, 2023
Symbolbild Musik Violine

When Beethoven's music was considered 'peculiar'

In this DW Festival Concert, violinist Augustin Hadelich performs Beethoven's complex Violin Concerto in D Major.
CultureFebruary 15, 2023
Stamps with skeleton-like animations from one of Iron Maiden's hit singles.

From Iron Maiden to Beethoven: Stars on stamps

Postage companies worldwide celebrate cultural icons. Royal Mail is issuing stamps paying tribute to Iron Maiden.
CultureJanuary 5, 202314 images
A filled concert hall seen from above with impressive orange lighting.

Celebrating humanity with Beethoven

This episode features a medley of iconic concert pieces by Beethoven and composers Louis Andriessen and Bela Bartok.
MusicOctober 17, 2022
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Belarusian protest choir performs in Bonn

A "Beethoven Fest" concert saw musicians from Belarus, Ukraine and Germany perform together.
MusicSeptember 9, 202202:17 min
Person dressed in costume holding up arm to a blue-and-black background.

Bonn's Beethoven Festival for 'All the People'

Featuring acts such as a queer collective and Colombian street artists, diversity is key at Bonn's Beethovenfest.
MusicAugust 26, 2022
Beethoven statue being transported with yellow harness

Polished Beethoven returns to Bonn

The composer's historical statue, unveiled in 1845, has returned to its location after six months of restoration.
MusicJuly 5, 2022
BG Frühling im Deutschen

An ode to the Sunday walk

The Germans' Sunday walk in the park is a lovely tradition, and is often topped off with eating cake.
CultureMay 25, 2022
Black and white drawing of Beethoven with an electric guitar

DW documentary wins music award

Winner of an International Classical Music Award, "A World Without Beethoven?" shows how the composer changed culture.
CultureApril 22, 2022
Mikhail Khokhlov, man with a white Z on a black sweatshirt

Music students tricked into promoting pro-Putin 'Z'

A video from Moscow's noted Gnesin Russian Academy of Music is an example of how Russia fabricates support for the war.
CultureMarch 25, 2022
Beethoven's birthplace in Bonn

Non-stop Beethoven

In this episode of DW Festival Concert, listen to symphonies of Beethoven that were played at the 2021 Beethovenfest.
MusicMarch 15, 2022
Ivan Velikanov

Russian conductor suspended for peace speech

Ivan Velikanov stood up for peace on stage in Russia. That had immediate consequences for the star conductor.
MusicMarch 3, 2022
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Composer Ricky Kej: An Indian take on Beethoven

Indian composer Ricky Kej covers Beethoven in an appeal to save the planet.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 18, 202206:34 min
A drawing of Ludwig van Beethoven from 1910.

DW's Beethoven documentary receives music prize

A DW film looks at the composer's influence on pop culture. It has won an International Classical Music Award.
MusicJanuary 18, 2022
Beethovenfest 2021 Inszenierung "Pavane für Prometheus" von Romeo Castellucci

DW Festival Concert: Celebrating Prometheus

In this edition of DW Festival Concert, all the music is somehow tied to Prometheus, the rebellious Greek titan.
MusicJanuary 11, 2022
Michael Maul, man holding up book that reads, Bach

Bach's 'inexhaustible cosmos'

Johann Sebastian Bach's music is revered around the world. A new biography reveals the man behind the musician.
MusicDecember 6, 2021
6 people stand, one holding an award statue

BTHVN2020 is Cultural Brand of the Year

The Beethoven anniversary project wins the European Cultural Brand Award 2021, which recognizes strong media brands.
CultureDecember 2, 2021
A photograph of Kent Nagano with an an orchestra in the background

Kent Nagano conducts final concert of the Beethovenfest Bonn

For the final concert of the Beethoven Year, Kent Nagano conducts the Missa Solemnis in the Cologne Cathedral.
CultureOctober 29, 2021
A painting of Ludwig van Beethoven holding up his hand.

Beethoven's last symphony finished by AI

Researchers used algorithms to finish composing Beethoven's 10th. Are computer programs as creative as human musicians?
MusicOctober 9, 2021
Herbert Blomstedt

World's oldest conductor energized by music

At 94, Herbert Blomstedt is as active as ever. He spoke to DW about Beethoven, the power of music and faith.
MusicSeptember 8, 2021
Conductor Jordi Savall at the 2021 Beethovenfest in Bonn

Beethovenfest 2021

The Beethovenfest in Bonn celebrates the musical genius of the legendary German composer and is on until September 10.
MusicAugust 27, 2021
A woman wearing Indian clothes dances onstage in front of a group of musicians

Campus-Project: 20 years of global music making

The Beethovenfest and DW project brings together young musicians from around the world who connect through music.
MusicAugust 26, 2021
Classical performers at the Beethovenfest 2021 opening concert.

Beethovenfest 2021 takes off

This year's festival in Bonn opened with a marathon of Beethoven's symphonies and a benefit concert for flood victims.
CultureAugust 23, 2021
Portrait of Nike Wagner, director of the Beethovenfest, smiling into the camera.

Beethovenfest's Nike Wagner takes stock

The Beethovenfest director talks to DW about her tenure of the festival and Beethoven's relevance in today's world.
MusicAugust 18, 2021
Ricky Kej at the forefront of a street scene blurred in the background, wearing a beard

An Indian take on Beethoven

Indian composer Ricky Kej covers Beethoven in an appeal to save the planet.
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 8, 202106:34 min
Musicians hold framed drums, also known as the daf in Persian

Oriental music meets Beethoven

Echoing Beethoven's humanism, the project "1001 Measures between Bonn and Babylon" fosters East-West dialogue.
MusicJuly 5, 2021
A large bight painting of man sticking his tongue out on a house wall

Famous quotes: Why are so many fake?

How do fake quotes enter the popular lexicon, and can we find their true origins?
CultureMarch 24, 2021
Bayreuth Festival's main performance venue, the Richard Wagner Festspielhaus

What's up in classical music festivals for 2021?

Organizers in Germany and Austria are hopeful even as they present modified plans for spring and summer concerts.
CultureFebruary 12, 2021
A copper engraving of Ludwig van Beethoven from 1814

Did the genius composer miss a beat?

Everybody makes mistakes and so did Beethoven. Experts believe he may have miscalculated the tempo of some symphonies.
CultureJanuary 27, 2021
Neon sign of 2021

What's on in 2021?

We'll be in the throes of COVID in 2021 as well, but here’s an overview of cultural events planned in the New Year.
CultureJanuary 1, 2021
Deutschland Saman Haddad Bonn | Portrait

From refugee to transcultural ambassador

Saman Haddad came to Germany from Iraq with his parents when he was just 13. Now, he's a cultural ambassador.
CultureDecember 26, 2020
08.2012 DW Feature Schumann at Pier2 Paavo Järvi 02

'Every year is Beethoven year'

Beethoven's anniversary year was going to be big — then COVID-19 came. Conductor Paavo Jarvi tells DW about his year.
CultureDecember 23, 2020
Daniel Barenboim

Daniel Barenboim conducts on Beethoven's anniversary

In the extended Beethoven anniversary year, major highlights are still to come.
MusicDecember 17, 2020
Bonn | Beethovenstatue mit Mundschutz

Beethoven's 250th birthday: A muted celebration

The world has been celebrating Beethoven's 250th birthday this year, but many events were axed due to the coronavirus.
CultureDecember 16, 2020
Beethoven 's Ninth - excerpt of the score

Beethoven's 'Unfinished' symphony

Beethoven's unfinished 10th symphony will be completed with the help of artificial intelligence.
CultureDecember 13, 202003:01 min
Ricky Kej, composer, winner of a Grammy and environment activist from India

Beethoven and Nature: Indian Musician Ricky Kej

Indian film composer Ricky Kej brings Beethoven and environmental activism together on stage.
CultureDecember 13, 202003:34 min
Ludwig van Beethoven playing an electric guitar

Beethoven: Creator of the rock riff

Without Beethoven, many things wouldn’t have happened in music, including some iconic rock riffs.
CultureDecember 13, 202004:38 min
Working on the movie "Project Baghdad"

Beethoven in Baghdad

Goethe's Egmont set to Beethoven’s music—an adventurous undertaking in the middle of Baghdad.
CultureDecember 13, 202004:31 min
Bonn - Beethovenhaus

Visit the Beethoven House in Bonn

A new permanent exhibition shows what Beethoven was like as a person, as well as an artist.
TravelDecember 12, 202004:57 min
Land art portrait of Beethoven by Dario Gambarin

Land art portraits: Ludwig van Beethoven and more

Artist Dario Gambarin has created a huge depiction of the composer Beethoven. Check out his other land art works.
CultureDecember 9, 20208 images