Press Invitation May 2, 2024, 11 a.m. CEST

Bernstein's Beethoven – Ode to Freedom
May 3 to August 19, 2024

The Beethoven-Haus Bonn is dedicating an extensive programme to the 200th anniversary of "the Ninth" (see press release published April 18). It includes the new special exhibition, which will open on May 2 at 6 p.m. CEST at the Museum Beethoven-Haus. Entitled "Bernstein's Beethoven - Ode to Freedom", it conveys with around 100 objects the American pianist, conductor, author and producer Leonard Bernstein's lifelong engagement with Beethoven. It culminated in Christmas 1989, shortly before Leonard Bernstein's death, in the Berlin performances of the Ninth which became legendary as "Ode an die Freiheit" (Ode to Freedom) in the light of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The exhibition's curator is Malte Boecker, Director of the Beethoven-Haus, in collaboration with Arnd Richter, music journalist and Bernstein specialist.

We would like to present the new special exhibition and cordially invite you to a

Press Event 
on May 2, 11 a.m. CEST 
at the special exhibition,
Museum Beethoven-Haus, Bonngasse 20, 53111 Bonn.

Malte Boecker will welcome you jointly with museum director Dr Nicole Kämpken and give you a tour through the exhibition. Craig Urquhart, Senior Consultant of the Leonard Bernstein Office, will also be present.

The event is suitable for press photographers and film crews.

We also cordially invite you to the vernissage at 6 p.m. CEST in the presence of Jamie Bernstein, Leonard Bernstein's daughter.

Please register for the press event and/or vernissage by April 29 at presse@europressedienst.com.

Press kit

Press Contact
Michael Forst
m.forst@europressedienst.com
Phone +49 (0) 228 91254840
Phone +49 (0) 172 8584604

Ursula Timmer-Fontani
Beethoven-Haus Bonn
timmer-fontani@beethoven.de
Phone +49 (0) 228 98175-16

About the Beethoven-Haus Bonn: Founded in 1889, the Beethoven-Haus Bonn Association is regarded as the leading international Beethoven centre. It has set itself the task of keeping Beethoven's life, work and influence alive. The cultural institution includes the world's most important Beethoven collection, the museum in Beethoven's birthplace with over 100,000 visitors per year (before corona), a musicological research department, library and publishing house as well as the Hermann J. Abs Chamber Music Hall. Supported by over 700 friends, sponsors and members from over 20 countries, supported by the federal government, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Rhineland Regional Association and the federal city of Bonn, the Beethoven-Haus fulfils a cultural mission of national and international importance. The violinist Daniel Hope has been President since March 2020.