Music that sings about life, that accompanies us in life, that even points beyond human existence: Beethovenfest Bonn 2023 is a »festival about life«. The festival as a place of lively encounter, as a platform for new beginnings and initiatives, as a special time in life – Beethovenfest 2023 wants to be all of these things.
Under Steven Walter’s directorship, Beethovenfest is reorienting itself. It wants to be a festival that affects everyone’s lives and that addresses the big questions of our time. Last year, the motto »Alle Menschen« (»All People«) was about the issue of diversity in the classical concert world. This year, we are questioning the sustainability of our way of life, including as a festival.
Music cannot solve the climate crisis, but it does move people and open up new horizons: it triggers change. This change should also be initiated in our business and work as a festival. We are starting a change process and evaluating our ecological footprint. For this, we are supported by regional and national partners such as Knauber in Bonn and the renowned Öko Institut.