Exhibit Schedule
Current exhibit
The Beethovens on the Rhine:
Exploring Beethoven's Love of Nature
January 21 - April 11, 2020
Learn about the Beethoven family in Bonn and the natural world of Beethoven's childhood
home.
In 1733, Ludwig van Beethoven’s grandfather arrived in Bonn, Germany, a small town
along the Rhine River, to work as a court musician. The family lived in this town
for the next two generations. This exhibition illustrates how everyday life in Bonn
shaped Beethoven’s upbringing, and how the beautiful Rhineland helped to foster his
lifelong love of nature. It traces Ludwig’s trip up the Rhine with his mother, musical
tours, and his four-month visit to Vienna when he was barely sixteen.
While examining the hardships and adventures of his childhood, the exhibition explores Bonn’s cultural life and Beethoven’s general and musical education. The continuation of the exhibition inside the Beethoven Center features Bonn’s celebration of the 75th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth in 1845 with the unveiling of a monument in his honor.
Upcoming Exhibits:
The Beethovens on the Rhine: Exploring Beethoven's Love of Nature
January 21, 2020 - April 11, 2020
Learn about the Beethoven family in Bonn and the natural world of Beethoven's childhood home. In conjunction with the Pastoral Project (April 22) and the Nature Hike (May 9).
Beethoven's Chamber Music
April 20, 2020 - June 27, 2020
Explore the social history of chamber music-making in the nineteenth century and the central role of Beethoven's music. In conjunction with Chamber Music Conference (April 30 - May 2)
Beethoven at the Ball: Social Dancing in the Early Nineteenth Century
July 13, 2020 - October 3, 2020
Learn about the music, customs, costumes, and choreography of the formal (and less formal) balls during Beethoven's time. In conjunction with Beethoven at the Ball: Workshop and Social Dance Event (September 12)
Beethoven Anniversaries: Past, Present, Future
October 19, 2020 - December 23, 2020
Look back at past anniversaries to explores Beethoven's impact on history since 1870.
See also our online exhibits.