Vienna celebrates 250 years Beethoven!

"All ears on" was the motto in Vienna as early as 1 January 2020, when the city started the great anniversary year with the famous New Year's Concert with Beethoven sounds for the first time. The occasion is the birthday of the famous Viennese by choice Ludwig van Beethoven, who celebrates his 250th anniversary in December. It is also thanks to Beethoven that Vienna has become the world capital of classical music! Reason enough for all kinds of art and cultural institutions such as museums, theatres and opera houses to dedicate numerous concerts, special exhibitions and even culinary delicacies to this great musical genius. 

But Beethoven's Vienna does not only include countless concerts and events, but also many residential buildings and public places, where guests of Vienna can walk through the cityfree of charge on the traces of Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven moved altogether more than 60 times, whereby already due to the former residential and working places, a charming walk is a must. 

My personal tip in advance: the Pasqualatihaus on the Mölker Bastei not far from the main university of Vienna. Beethoven is said to have resided in this house a total of six times and, among other things, worked on his only opera Fidelio as well as on his piano piece "For Elise". Absolutely worth seeing is also the Vienna Secession with the famous Beethoven Frieze by Gustav Klimt, which he painted on the occasion of a Beethoven exhibition in 1902 and dedicated to the musical genius as a tribute to the 9th Symphony. Come along on a little journey through Beethoven's Vienna and all the unique events in this anniversary year!

Beethoven Concerts 

Beethoven's 'Comeback'! Ludwig van Beethoven can be heard throughout Vienna and the surrounding area in the coming months after the shutdown. Not only world-famous orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic or the Vienna Symphony Orchestra dedicate unique concerts to the great composer. Beethoven's sounds were also heard for the first time at the Vienna Danube Island Festival as well as at the popular Rathausfestival in the summer!

Vienna got off to a brilliant start in the Beethoven Year 2020 on New Year's Day when, after the sound of the Pummerin and the Danube Waltz, Beethoven's most famous melody and anthem of the European Union was heard on Vienna's Stephansplatz: The Ode to Joy. The following concerts could be "saved" this year.