3.9.– 3.10. 2026

Sat. 20.12.2025

14:00, Beethovenhalle

Open House Day

  • Participation, Orchestra

  • Free entry

  • Access regulated according to on-site capacity
  • Beethovenhalle © Beethovenfest Bonn
    Beethovenhalle © Beethovenfest Bonn
  • Cameron Carpenter © Dovile Sermokas
    Cameron Carpenter © Dovile Sermokas
  • Dirk Kaftan & Beethoven Orchester Bonn © Thomas Frey
    Dirk Kaftan & Beethoven Orchester Bonn © Thomas Frey
  • Juri de Marco © Nekame Klasohm
    Juri de Marco © Nekame Klasohm
  • Momi Maiga © Patrick Essex
    Momi Maiga © Patrick Essex
  • Elsa Artmann © Patrick Essex
    Elsa Artmann © Patrick Essex
  • Martha Bijlsma © Patrick Essex
    Martha Bijlsma © Patrick Essex

Access from 13:30

Tessniem Kadiri presents the day

Programme

Great Hall: Opening | Sing along concert | Organ impro
14:40, Great Hall

Opening

Guido Déus mayor federal city of Bonn
Ralf Birkner CEO BonnCC/Beethovenhalle Bonn
Steven Walter artistic director Beethovenfest Bonn

Brass section of Beethoven Orchester Bonn
Tessniem Kadiri presenter

15:00–16:00, Great Hall

Sing along concert

Momi Maiga kora & vocals
Juri de Marco community singing & flugelhorn
Cameron Carpenter organ
Beethoven Orchester Bonn
Dirk Kaftan conductor

Organ improvisation
on Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

Engelbert Humperdinck
Prelude from »Hänsel und Gretel«

»O du fröhliche«
Christmas song sing along

Momi Maiga
»Kairo« & »Ocean«

John Lennon
»Imagine«
and other sing along songs

Leroy Anderson
»Sleigh Ride«

16:15–17:15, Great Hall

Organ improvisation

Cameron Carpenter organ

Improvisation

Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude and Fugue in E-flat Major, BWV 552

Improvisation on classic christmas songs

Studio: Beethovenfest Fellows | Beethoven Orchester Bonn
14:00–14:30, Studio

Elsa Artmann & Annie Bloch

Elsa Artmann dance
Annie Bloch keyboard & live composition

***

»Too Strong For Too Long«
This is a solo excerpt from the ensemble piece »Langes Wochenende« (»Long Weekend«), performed by Elsa Artmann and set to live music by Annie Bloch. Through the fictional character of the Freelance Lover, the performance explores the idea of collegial tenderness as a relationship utopia, expressed through an embrace, a love song and a rant.

Please note that the piece contains:

  • sexual references
  • thematisation of power relations
  • physical contact between performers and audience members (after verbal and situational consent has been established)
  • suggested age: from 16
16:15–16:45, Studio

Kana Sugimura & Martha Bijlsma

Kana Sugimura violin
Martha Bijlsma cello

***

Reinhold Glière
Excerpts from Eight Duos for Violin and Cello, op. 39 

Gideon Klein
Lento from Duo for Violin and Cello 

Pēteris Vasks 
»Pianissimo« from »Grāmata Čellam«

Arthur Honegger
Allegro from Sonatine for Violin and Cello in E Minor, H.80

Maurice Ravel
Très Vif from Sonata for Violin and Cello

17:15–17:45, Studio

Momi Maiga

19:00, Studio

Beethoven’s Fifth

Small Smokers’ Foyer: Solo variations – Beethovenfest Talents
14:00–18:30, Small Smokers’ Foyer

Solo variations

Chamber Music Hall: Chamber music – Beethovenfest Talents
14:00–18:30, Chamber Music Hall

Chamber music

14:00–14:20

16:10–16:30

16:40–17:00

17:10–17:30

17:40–18:00

18:10–18:30

Seminar room: Participate
14:00–14:30, Seminar room

Soundpainting workshop

Community Music

Juri de Marco community musician

With hand signals as conducting, music arises from the moment – no prior knowledge necessary.

15:00–15:30, Seminar room

Song text workshop

Community Music

Juliane Fehn & Max Kelm
PORTAL – Plattform Orchester und Theater für Alle (Theater Bonn & Beethoven Orchester Bonn)

Ideas and wishes for the Beethovenhalle Bonn spontaneously give rise to your own song lyrics – no prior knowledge necessary.

16:00–16:30, Seminar room

Song writing workshop

Community Music

Juliane Fehn & Max Kelm
PORTAL – Plattform Orchester und Theater für Alle (Theater Bonn & Beethoven Orchester Bonn)

Using simple tools, you can create your own melody for lyrics from the previous group – no prior knowledge is necessary.

17:00–17:30, Seminar room

Sing along workshop

Community Music

Juri de Marco community musician

Together with the Beethovenfest Community Choir from Tannenbusch, we will sing well-known songs – no prior knowledge necessary.

Foyer stage: Chill out
From 18:45, foyer stage

Beats & sounds – chill out

kordz keyboard & electronics

Various foyers: Food & drink

The restaurant in the Beethovenhalle Cantos provides catering services in the foyers.

Description

The Beethovenhalle is being transformed into a new home for music in Bonn. Beethovenfest aims to make this musical venue open and accessible to all, and is curating an open day with free admission on 20 December, together with the operating company BonnCC and the Beethoven Orchester Bonn.

Doors open in the early afternoon, giving visitors the chance to explore the newly renovated Beethovenhalle musically. The programme will begin with an improvisation on the Klais organ in the main hall. Musicians from Beethovenfest Talents and Beethovenfest Fellows will perform in the foyers, studios, and seminar rooms, taking it in turns. Beethovenfest Community Musician Juri de Marco invites you to a sing-along concert with the Beethoven Orchester Bonn. In the evening, the opening of the new studio in the Beethovenhalle, made possible by Sparkasse KölnBonn, will be celebrated. This newly designed concert hall has up to 500 seats. The Beethoven Orchester Bonn will perform Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, conducted by Dirk Kaftan.

In addition, community musicians from Beethovenfest and Theatre Bonn offer participatory activities for the whole family. Don't miss the counter of the Young Circle of Friends, who have prepared a surprise to discover the Beethovenhalle anew. The new Cantos restaurant will be providing refreshments during the day.

The 2025 Open House at the Beethovenhalle Bonn is sponsored by Sparkasse KölnBonn.