Beethoven In Bonn
The history of the Bonn Beethovenfest stretches back to 1845 when Beethoven's 75th birthday was celebrated with three days of unbroken festivities.
The musical gala climaxed with the unveiling of a Beethoven memorial in the Münsterplatz in the presence of Queen Victoria and Franz Liszt, whose piano performances had raised funds for the monument to Bonn's most celebrated son.
Our autumn visit to the Rhineland will present the complete cycle of nine Beethoven symphonies, from the opening pizzicato chord of Opus 21 to the final exhilarating shout of Opus 125, all under the baton of the Grammy-award winning Paavo Järvi.
We will also attend a performance of Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt, famous for its double choruses, with Sir John Elliot Gardiner conducting the English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir.
Beethoven spent the first two decades of his life in Bonn, and the house where he was born is home to the world's largest collection of Beethoven memorabilia, including hundreds of original autograph scores and the composer's very own viola. We will also visit the inn frequented by Beethoven as a young man and the church where he mastered the organ.
Our course director is ideally suited to lead our examination of Beethoven's life and work: to mark Beethoven's bi-centenary he was invited to participate in two weeks of daily master classes with Claudio Arrau at Bonn University. John hopes to give recitals at Beethoven's birthplace and in Aachen's glorious cathedral. Aided by a series of lectures and visits, John will help unravel the various strands of Beethoven's remarkable personality, from his Haydnesque sense of humour to his Napoleonesque ideals of heroism.
As well as enjoying a whole-day excursion to Aachen, capital of the Frankish empire under Charlemagne, we will visit a second cathedral city, Cologne, home to inspiring collections of Old Masters and Picasso.
We stay throughout at the very comfortable Rheinhotel Dreesen, situated on the banks of the Rhine in Bad Godesberg, a short distance from the centre of Bonn.
Itinerary
Day 1Depart St Pancras 0955 by Eurostar to Brussels then by high speed train to Cologne, arriving 1645. Transfer by coach to Bonn for six nights at Rheinhotel Dreesen.
Day 2Morning seminar followed by tour of Bonn: sites associated with Beethoven (school, churches, memorial sculpture) with lunch at Em Höttche Tavern (frequented by Beethoven). Afternoon: Beethoven Haus (birthplace, large Beethoven collection). Evening concert in Beethoven Hall: Beethoven Symphony Nos 1, 2, 3.
Day 3Whole-day excursion to Cologne (with lunch at Restaurant Früh am Dom): Gothic cathedral, Romanesque churches, Ludwig Museum (one of world's largest collections of Picasso), Wallraf Richartz Museum (Old Master paintings). Evening concert in Beethoven Hall: Beethoven Symphony Nos 4, 5.
Day 4Morning seminar followed by Haus der Geschichte (with lunch) and further visits in Bonn. Evening concert in Beethoven Hall: Beethoven Symphony Nos 6, 7.
Day 5Rhine cruise and visit to Maria Laach (12th century Romanesque abbey church). Evening concert in Beethoven Hall: Beethoven Symphony Nos 8, 9.
Day 6Whole-day excursion to Aachen including cathedral (Charlemagne's marble throne, celebrated treasury), 14th century Rathaus (built on site of Charlemagne's palace), museums. Evening concert in Beethoven Hall with John Elliot Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir: Handel Israel in Egypt.
Day 7Transfer to Cologne for 1215 departure by train via Brussels to St Pancras, arriving 1655.
Cost includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, return travel, all performances, breakfast, lunch or dinner, excursions & admissions.
Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £150.
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