The Bridgetower Project

On August 29th 2021 the Beethoven-Haus Bonn will launch a new series dedicated to the current debates on racism and colonialism. These extend increasingly into the field of classical music. Criticism is directed at structural discrimination on various levels: ranging from the dominance of certain male composers, to exclusionary processes and institutions, as well as stereotypical role models in the world of classical music.

This new series is entitled “The Bridgetower Project”. It is named after George Polgreen Bridgetower, a Black violinist and composer who together with Ludwig van Beethoven premiered the latter’s 9th Violin Sonata in 1803. As Beethoven-Haus President Daniel Hope explains: “I have been fascinated by the virtuoso Bridgetower has been fascinating me for many years. I am eager to learn more about him. With this in mind, I should like to begin our series with a concert-lecture that focuses on the relationship between Bridgetower and Beethoven. However, our series at the Beethoven-Haus goes beyond mere history. For me, Bridgetower represents the diversity of personalities who have impacted European music history. Beethoven believed passionately in a free and open society.”

The series of events will illustrate the topic of structural discrimination in music history and music business from various angles. Among others, for the first events the following guests are expected: Naika Foroutan, Director of the Berlin Institute for Integration and Migration Research, 'Kammersängerin' Grace-Melzia Bumbry and musicologist Melanie Unseld. Furthermore, Jake Heggie (*1961) from Los Angeles has been commissioned to write a composition inspired by Beethoven's and Bridgetower's relationship that will be premiered by Daniel Hope at the BTHVN WEEK 2022.

"We intend to reflect more on diversity and discrimination in our work," says Beethoven-House Director Malte Boecker. "This implies an adequate discussion about the listed property 'Haus im Mohren' that is part of the Beethoven-Haus ensemble."

The event series is part of a Culture of Remembrance project in the city of Bonn and is generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. A co-operation with the Beethovenfest 2022 is being planned.

All events are going to take place in the chamber music concert hall of the Beethoven-Haus Bonn. Entry to the events is free of charge. Tickets are available at the Beethoven-Haus shop (Bonngasse 21, D - 53111 Bonn, shop@beethoven.de, +49 228 98175-37). For documentation purposes some events will be recorded.

If you want to keep up-dated please subscribe to the Beethoven-Haus newsletter under +49 (0) 228 9817539 or write to sekretariat@beethoven.de. More on www.beethoven.de.

Please pay attention to the background information on the “House im Mohren”, Bonngasse 18, and visual images which can be downloaded under the following link: https://www.beethoven.de/de/g/Bridgetower

Captions:
Illustration: George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower (1779 – 1860) – reproduction of an anonymous miniature; Beethoven-Haus Bonn
Illustration: The façade of the listed property "Haus im Mohren" with house mark figure

Scheduled events:

Sunday | August 29, 2021 | 11 am
Opening event of the Bridgetower Project 
Bridgetower and Beethoven
Lecture Recital
President Daniel Hope, violin
Maxim Lando, piano
Professor Dr. Christine Siegert, Director of the Beethoven Archive
—
Friday | October 29, 2021 | 5 pm
Allianzen und Antagonisten eines polarisierten Diskurses (Alliances and antagonists of a polarised discourse)
Taking a look behind the scenes of current identity debates
Professor Dr. Naika Foroutan, Founding Director of the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research / Humboldt University of Berlin
 —
 Thursday | December 9, 2021 | 5 pm
 Alltagsdiskriminierung auf und jenseits der Bühne. Alles nur Theater? (Discrimination in everyday life on and off the stage. Just part of the show?) 'Kammersängerin' Dr. h.c. Grace Bumbry
in an interview with Professor Dr. Holger Noltze
—
Friday | March 4, 2022 | 5 PM
"Itzt kommen d’Mohren in d’Mod" (The moors are becoming en vogue)
 Representations of Black people on the opera stage in Beethoven's time
 Professor Dr. Melanie Unseld, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
—
 Saturday | June 4, 2022 | 5 pm 
on the occasion of the BTHVN WEEK 2022
Interview with Jack Heggie
The composer on the first performance of his Fantasy Suite for violin and piano during the concluding concert of the BTHVN WEEK in conversation with Dr. Bernhard Helmich, General Manager of the Bonn Theatre, and Daniel Hope, President of the Beethoven-Haus

The Beethoven-Haus in Bonn
The Beethoven-Haus Bonn association, founded in 1889, is considered the worldwide leading Beethoven centre. It strives to preserve Beethoven’s life, work and legacy. The Beethoven-Haus Bonn comprises the world’s most important Beethoven collection, the museum at Beethoven’s birthplace attracting over 100,000 visitors per year, a musicological research department with its own library and publishing house as well as the Hermann J. Abs chamber music hall. Thanks to the engagement and support of a good 900 friends, patrons and members from more than 20 countries as well as the German government, the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Rhineland Regional Council, and the city of Bonn, the association carries out various cultural tasks of national and international importance. Since 2020, violinist, music author, activist and producer Daniel Hope has been serving as president. In 2016 the non-profit Beethoven anniversary society plc was founded under the umbrella of the Beethoven-Haus Foundation to coordinate the events taking place in the anniversary year 2020. Due to the Corona pandemic the Beethoven year was extended to the end of September 2021.

Förderer
Herausgeber:
Beethoven-Haus Bonn
Pressestelle
Bonngasse 24-26
53111 Bonn
Fon +228 98175 16
Fax +228 98175 24
pressestelle@beethoven.de