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Beethoven Weekender

Day tickets

— ,Silk Street Music Hall
Illustration of Beethoven wearing Prince's trademark purple suit and holding a guitar

Join us on the Saturday or Sunday of our ultimate Beethoven celebration as we explore the man, the music, and his place in our time in a jam-packed festival weekend.

Beethoven is one of music’s most mythologised geniuses. In his own lifetime, he was a radical champion of individual expression in an age of violent social change. Today, ringtones bleep Für Elise and protesters in Parliament Square sing the ‘Ode to Joy’. We can attack him, revere him or just enjoy him. We can – and must – interrogate and challenge him. But we can’t ignore him.

So we’re filling a weekend with talks, installations, exhibitions and his music. From a full symphony cycle by five of the UK's top orchestras – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Vasily Petrenko, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Kirill Karabits, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Royal Northern Sinfonia & Lars Vogt, and Hallé & Sir Mark Elder – to the most delicate piano miniatures, join us as we search for the man behind the myth.

Tagged with: Classical music Barbican Presents 2019-20 Beethoven 250 More...

Exchange your ticket for a wristband at the Box Office from one hour before the first performance. Wristband will guarantee entry to all the symphony sessions on that day. Entry to other sessions will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Beethoven Weekender sponsored by DHL

Beethoven's Bagatelles supported by Classical Futures Europe and the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

1 Feb schedule

  • Sat 1 Feb  
  • 10am & 6pm, FreeStage   Beethoven Bites
  • 11am, Hall   Beethoven's Symphonies: Nos 5 & 6 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Vasily Petrenko
  • 1pm & 5pm, The Pit   Beethoven's Quartets: Music, love, life and letters
  • 1.15pm & 5.15pm, Milton Court   Beethoven's Violin
  • 1.30pm & 5.30pm, LSO St Luke's   Bagatelles: A composer at play
  • 2.15pm, FreeStage   Beethoven NEIN! mv I: Alone
  • 3pm, Hall   Beethoven's Symphonies: Nos 1 & 3 - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Kirill Karabits
  • 7pm, Hall   Beethoven's Symphonies: Nos 2 & 4 - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
  • Always on throughout the day  
  • Fountain Room   Beethoven NEIN! mv III: Together
  • Level G   BTHVN on Tour exhibition
  • Level G Studio   Baby Beethoven in Squish Space
  • Conservatory   Beethoven Bites

2 Feb schedule

  • Sun 2 Feb  
  • 11am & 2pm, Silk Street Music Hall   'Ah, Ludwig!'
  • 12.15pm & 4pm, Milton Court   Beethoven's Violin
  • 12.30pm & 4.30pm, LSO St Luke's   Bagatelles: A composer at play
  • 12.45pm, The Pit   Music & deafness panel discussion
  • 1.30pm, FreeStage   Beethoven NEIN! mv II: Apart
  • 2pm, Hall   Beethoven's Symphonies: Nos 7 & 8 - Royal Northern Sinfonia & Lars Vogt
  • 3.45pm   Beethoven's Quartets: Music, love, life & letters
  • 5pm & 7.30pm, FreeStage   Beethoven Bites
  • 6pm, Hall   Beethoven's Symphonies: No 9 - Hallé & Sir Mark Elder
  • 7.30pm, Milton Court   Beethoven's Quartets: Music, love, life & letters (repeat)
  • 9pm, Hall   Beethoven NEIN! mv IV: Retreat
  • Always on throughout the day  
  • Fountain Room   Beethoven NEIN! mv III: Together
  • Level G   BTHVN on Tour exhibition
  • Level G Studio   Baby Beethoven in Squish Space
  • Conservatory   Beethoven Bites

Explore the programme

Hear the greatest of all symphonic cycles in its entirety across one weekend. Introduced by Beethoven specialist and broadcaster John Suchet, five of the UK’s finest orchestras will take us on a journey from Beethoven’s game-changing First Symphony through to the glorious Ninth, opening a window to the human soul.

1 Feb:
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Kirill Karabits
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Vasily Petrenko
Introduced by John Suchet

2 Feb:
Royal Northern Sinfonia & Lars Vogt
Hallé & Sir Mark Elder
Introduced by John Suchet

Young composers and performers get their teeth into Beethoven, offering a variety of responses to classic Beethoven repertoire, including a radical reimagining of his Pastoral Symphony set amidst the lush greenery of the Barbican Conservatory. Some are celebratory, others anarchic, but all salute a composer who continues to inspire today’s young creatives.

Download the schedule

With thanks

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Barbican

Location
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
​​​​​​​The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.

Milton Court

Location
Milton Court Concert Hall is located within the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is approximately a 5 minute walk from the Barbican entrance on Silk Street.  

Address
Milton Court
Silk St, London
EC2Y 9BH

Nearby public transport
We are within walking distance from a number of London Underground stations, the closest being Barbican, Old Street, St Paul’s and Moorgate. The nearest train stations are Liverpool Street and Farringdon. Bus Route 153 runs directly past the Barbican along Chiswell Street

Car and bicycle parking
We have free bicycle spaces and paid car parking spaces available

LSO St Luke's

Location
161 Old St
London
EC1V 9NG

Nearby public transport
The closest London Underground station is Old Street.The nearest National Rail station is Old Street (for Great Northern services), with Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Blackfriars and City Thameslink all within walking distance. Bus services running to LSO St Luke's are 55, 243 (stop nearest to LSO St Luke's), 43, 76, 141, 205, 214, 271. 

Car and bicycle parking
The nearest paid car parking is at the Barbican. There are occasionally disabled parking spaces available at the venue, but these must be booked in advance by calling LSO St Luke's on 020 7490 3939. The nearest TfL Bicycle Hire docking station is at Old Street tube station.

Silk Street Music Hall

Location
The Silk Street Theatre, Music Hall and Lecture Recital Room are located in the main Guildhall School building on Silk Street and for Barbican produced events the venue can also be accessed from the Barbican if you exit via the doors next to Barbican Kitchen on Level G. 

Address
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Silk Street
Barbican
London
EC2Y 8DT

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.