Русская версияLudwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a multifaceted composer whose
works have unequalled staying power.
Each year,
Beethoven's birth city, Bonn, hosts an internationally
acclaimed music festival in his honor. This year, the focus of the
festival is particularly contemporary: the relationship between
power, politics and music.
Deutsche Welle is an official media partner of the event, which
will bring about 2,000 well-known artists from around the world to
the former German capital city.
For the past four years the Beethovenfest has focused on various
countries. But this year's month-long event, which starts Aug. 29,
highlights the political aspects of Beethoven's legacy.
It will look at the political statements Beethoven made
through his work, as well as the ideological misappropriation
of his music in the 20th century. As part of this examination,
several concerts will be held in Bonn venues with political and
social importance. These include the former West German
parliamentary chambers; the Palais Schaumburg, where former
chancellors lived and worked; and the Hotel Petersberg, the seat of
the Allied High Commission after World War II.
Persecuted composers
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Daniel Hope will explore music from Nazi concentration camps
By examining misappropriation and marginalization in music,
this year's Beethovenfest has selected a contemporary and rather
explosive topic.
"Ostracized music, forbidden music, the relationship between music
and politics today, the question of how music is
functionalized, even today -- that is a cutting edge theme," said
Beethovenfest Director Ilona Schmiel.
One of the event's highlights is a project led by the British
violinist Daniel Hope. With his "Music was Hope" program, he will
explore artists who were in the Nazi's Theresienstadt concentration
camp located in what is now the Czech Republic.
Hope, Philip Dukes and Ulrich Mattes will interpret music of Gideon
Klein, Hans Krasa and Erwin Schulhoff. Hope will also present his
arrangement of Maurice Ravel's Jewish Kaddish music.
"This is an examination of music that originated in the
concentration camps from very young and courageous Czech
composers," Hope said.
Klein was in his early 20s when he was imprisoned in the camp. He
was already a talented pianist and composer, on the fast track
towards a career as a traveling musician. During his imprisonment
from 1942 to 1945 he became a supporter for other musicians
held in Theresienstadt.
"He simply motivated the other artists, musicians and writers
to continue on and not to think about their situation," Hope said.
"So I think that for me this fits extremely well to this
examination of power and music."
Political context
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Masur will conduct all nine symphonies
Beethoven's beloved Ninth Symphony is a perfect example of a work
that has been exploited to fit ideologies. Beethoven composed it to
pay homage to the spirit of the Enlightenment. The song was later
used as propaganda by the Third Reich and as the Iron Curtain began
to crumble it became an anthem of freedom during German
reunification.
The Beethovenfest will also present the complete cycle of all nine
symphonies under the direction of Kurt Masur with the Orchestre
National de France. On Sept. 12, the Third, Fifth, Seventh and
Eighth Symphonies will be made available free of charge for podcast
or download on DW-WORLD.DE.
Deutsche Welle will once again sponsor a youth orchestra to travel
to Germany for a week-long residency and performance of a specially
commissioned musical work. This year will feature the Anton
Rubinstein Orchestra from the St. Petersburg Conservatory, which
has produced numerous world-renowned musicians over its 146 years
in existence.
(Deutsche Welle)
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