Beethoven from 1792 to 2026 I

Ludwig van Beethoven is more than just a musician; he is a major cultural phenomenon. Having arrived in Vienna in 1792 to forge a musical career, he managed to establish himself as Europe’s greatest composer following Haydn’s death in the early 19^th century. Since then, he has not only remained the cornerstone of the repertoire, but has embodied the Romantic myth of the creative hero better than anyone else, serving both as a model for our democratic modernity and as a standard-bearer for a wide variety of causes. These programmes, presented by the musicologist and conductor Adriano Giardina, will offer a historical overview, tracing Beethoven’s aesthetic, social and political impact over time. In addition, commentary on excerpts from his piano sonatas – performed by pianist Stephanie Gurga (17 October) – as a sort of laboratory for musical innovation, the composer’s hallmark, will shed light on the musical foundations of this influence.