Beethovenhalle
Encyclopedia
The Beethovenhalle is a concert hall in Bonn
. It is the third hall in that city to bear the name of Bonn-born composer Ludwig van Beethoven
.
, located in the Münsterplatz, the second hall was built in 1870 for centennial celebration of Beethoven's birth. Construction began anew on the hall after its destruction during Second World War. The third Beethovenhalle was designed and built under the direction of the German architect Siegfried Wolske.
).
the Beethovenhalle was often an important spot for political and historical events. For four times between 1974 and 1989 the Bundesversammlung, which elects the President of Germany
, took place in this historical site. Since 1990 the Beethovenhalle has been under a preservation order. In 1996 it was modernized for an estimated cost of 22.6 Million DM (11,55 Million €).
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. It is the third hall in that city to bear the name of Bonn-born composer Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
.
History
The first Beethovenhalle was built in 1845 during the inauguration of the Beethoven MonumentBeethoven Monument, Bonn
The Beethoven Monument is a large bronze statue of Ludwig van Beethoven that stands on the Münsterplatz in Bonn, Beethoven's birthplace. It was unveiled on 12 August 1845, in honour of the 75th anniversary of the composer's birth.-Background:...
, located in the Münsterplatz, the second hall was built in 1870 for centennial celebration of Beethoven's birth. Construction began anew on the hall after its destruction during Second World War. The third Beethovenhalle was designed and built under the direction of the German architect Siegfried Wolske.
The new hall
In September 1959 it was completed and has since then been an emblem of the city and one of the most important buildings of contemporary Germany. As the former halls, it is characterized by an excellent acoustic. In this context it has to be mentioned that the Beethovenhalle is highly important for the preservation of Beethoven’s musical tradition. Furthermore it is the home of the Beethoven Orchester Bonn. The opening and the final concert of the Beethovenfest takes place in the large hall, which offers seats for about 2000 concert guests. Prominent artists from around the world perform in the Beethovenhalle. In addition to that the hall is further used for carnival-events, exhibitions, parties, celebrations, conferences and conventions (e.g. AnimagiCAnimagiC
The AnimagiC is a German annual anime convention and one of the largest of its kind in the German-speaking world with currently about 12,000 visitors.-History:...
).
Spot for political and historical events
When Bonn was capital of West GermanyWest Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
the Beethovenhalle was often an important spot for political and historical events. For four times between 1974 and 1989 the Bundesversammlung, which elects the President of Germany
President of Germany
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country's head of state. His official title in German is Bundespräsident . Germany has a parliamentary system of government and so the position of President is largely ceremonial...
, took place in this historical site. Since 1990 the Beethovenhalle has been under a preservation order. In 1996 it was modernized for an estimated cost of 22.6 Million DM (11,55 Million €).