Beethovenfest Bonn: A concert full of journey through time and sound magic!

Beethovenfest Bonn: A concert full of journey through time and sound magic!

On September 20, 2024, an extraordinary concert by the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn took place in the Bonn Opera House. Under the direction of General Music Director Dirk Kaftan, a program was presented that dealt with the topics of diversity, contradiction, modernity and tradition that shaped the music of the 1920s. The performance was part of a cooperation with the Beethovenfest Bonn and West German Rundfunk (WDR) and included a thematic journey through the cultural and political climate of this decade.

The conception of the concert took over the Spanish pianist and arranger Iñigo Giner Miranda. He orchestrated an impressive collage of time documents and tonal elements that let the audience immerse yourself in the atmosphere of that time. In the first part of the concert, works by Béla Bartók, Germaine Tailleferre, Robert Steidl and Kurt Weill were on the program. In the second part, Schostakovich's first symphony, which was created in 1925 as the final thesis of his composition studies in St. Petersburg, was premiered.

artistic diversity

The occupation of the orchestra was remarkable and reflected the international and local diversity. Among the musicians of the first violin were Mikhail Ovrutsky, Jaehyeong Lee and Mugurel Markos, while the second violin was led by Dorothea Stepp and Maria Geißler. The viola group consisted of talented musicians such as Susanne Roehrig and Martin Wandel. The woodwinds, brass and the percussion were also represented by excellent artists who made the concert a tonal experience.

The guest musicians deserve special mention, such as the pianist Gulnora Alimova and the drummer Peter Stracke and Hermann Josef Tillmann. This variety of artists made a decisive contribution to the success of the concert.

A look at the 1920s

The concert addressed the political and cultural revolutions of the time, which were characterized by the shock of the First World War and the associated new beginning. "It is going forward" and "We are running out of our little little house" are just two examples of the catchy and at the same time critical pieces that came to the performance. This musical reflection on the eventful 20s was impressively supplemented by the moderation of Johannes Zink.

For those who have missed the concert or want to experience the performance again, the recording will be broadcast on the WDR 3 radio on January 9th at 8:03 p.m. In addition, the recording is available for 30 days to listen, so that a wider audience can enjoy this musical journey through time. Kabinett online did.