A New Cultural Highlight

How the project came to be

Bonn needs a new first-class concert hall, or more precisely, an edifice for music that offers world-class architecture and superlative acoustics. To this they all agreed--Bonn's creative and business communities, its municipal representatives as well as state and federal government officials--and this is what launched the Beethoven Festspielhaus Bonn project. Though not yet erected, several significant steps have been taken along the path to realization.

The first step was to find sponsors for the construction of the festival hall. The initiators found what they needed in the three large listed companies headquartered in Bonn. Deutsche Post, Deutsche Telekom and Deutsche Postbank declared their intention to finance the new construction of the Beethoven Festspielhaus. From that point forward, Deutsche Post took over the lead management for the next stage: planning the construction and coordinating the architect selection process. Ten internationally renowned architects were invited to submit their ideas, plans and models for the hall's design. Ten first-class proposals were presented in January 2009, four of which were selected for the second phase of the selection process. In this phase two designs are selected for the final assessment. The final decision as to which of the two edifices will be built is intended for the end of 2009.

For the federal government, the new Beethoven Festspielhaus expresses its commitment to honoring and preserving the heritage of Beethoven. The "Bundesstadt" Bonn is also keen on drawing on the rich musical tradition of its most famous son, Ludwig van Beethoven. Born in Bonn on December 16,1770, Beethoven is to this day a cornerstone of the city's identity and cultural life. Bonn's annual Beethovenfest is a mainstay on the calendar of European classical music festivals. The new Festspielhaus, which will also serve as home to the Beethoven Orchestra and venue for other world-class music events, will strengthen Bonn's attraction for music lovers around the world. The current Beethovenhalle, built in 1959 and greatly in need of renovation, no longer meets modern standards for acoustics and functionality. Bonn and its citizens have therefore mobilized to give Beethoven and his music a worthy home.