Beethoven 250
To celebrate 250 years since his birth, we gather the world’s finest musicians in a year-long exploration of classical music’s most mythologised genius: the music, the man, and his place in our time.
So as well as presenting his complete Symphonies, Piano Concertos and recitals from the likes of Evgeny Kissin and Anne-Sophie Mutter, we explore some of Beethoven’s less familiar works. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the LSO in Christ on the Mount of Olives as he compares and contrasts Beethoven and Alban Berg, while the Academy of Ancient Music perform his complete incidental music for Egmont.
And we consider how contemporary composers approach this monolithic figure, with David Lang’s prisoner of the state viewing Fidelio through a modern lens and Matthew Herbert offering an irreverent response in Beethoven NEIN! during our Beethoven Weekender – two days of music, talks, films, exhibitions and Level G events promising to be the ultimate celebration of the great composer.
Events
Academy of Ancient Music: Beethoven and Dussek
AAM begins its Beethoven 250 anniversary celebrations with his complete incidental music for Goethe’s play Egmont alongside the modern premiere of the Mass by his scandalous Czech contemporary Dussek.
Budapest Festival Orchestra and Sir András Schiff
In the first of four concerts celebrating Beethoven’s Piano Concertos, Sir András Schiff joins the BFO and Iván Fischer in the enigmatic, poetic Fourth – a true meeting of musical minds.
Budapest Festival Orchestra and Sir András Schiff
Sir András Schiff, Iván Fischer and the peerless Budapest Festival Orchestra continue their anniversary salute to the music of Beethoven with his mighty Emperor Concerto.
BBC Symphony Orchestra: David Lang’s prisoner of the state
215 years after the first performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio, David Lang’s fresh view of the opera’s story – and reflection on its enduring power – receives its European premiere.
Half Six Fix: London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle
Sir Simon Rattle marries two works of extraordinary intensity, played back-to-back in just one hour in this early-evening Half Six Fix concert, and introduced on-stage by the conductor.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle: Beethoven & Berg
Sir Simon Rattle presents a triptych of Alban Berg’s early masterpieces paired with Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle: Beethoven 250
Marrying emotive force with theatrically, Sir Simon Rattle sheds light on a rarely performed Beethoven masterpiece and Berg’s lyrical Violin Concerto with Lisa Batiashvili.
Beethoven Weekender: weekend tickets
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Hear all nine symphonies in one weekend, introduced by Beethoven specialist and broadcaster John Suchet and performed by brilliant orchestras from across the UK.
Beethoven Weekender: day tickets
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Hear all nine symphonies in one weekend, introduced by Beethoven specialist and broadcaster John Suchet and performed by brilliant orchestras from across the UK.
