Exhibitions

Beethoven maintained numerous contacts in England, where his music was highly regarded. He sold his compositions to publishers in London and Edinburgh, who also asked him for certain works, such as arrangements of folk songs or a piano version of the Violin Concerto. Two former Bonn residents were very active on Beethoven's behalf in London: the violinist and concert organiser Johann Peter Salomon, who was born in the later Beethoven House, and Beethoven's temporary secretary Ferdinand Ries. The latter was one of the directors of the Philharmonic Society, founded in 1813, which invited Beethoven to come to London several times to première new works it had commissioned. However, a trip to the island never materialised. The 9th Symphony, which she had commissioned, was first performed in Vienna. The exhibition, which is being shown in co-operation with the British Library and the Beethovenfest, illustrates the multifaceted subject matter.

Brief Guide

Petit Guide