We know that he was born in December 1770. We also know that he was baptized on December 17th. We don't know for sure that he was born on December 16th, but we do need a date to celebrate. So today, we celebrate Beethoven's Birthday with a collection of our favourite recent and not so recent performances. Watch, listen and enjoy!
Let's start in summer 1980
with the European Community Youth Orchestra rehearsing and performing Beethoven's violin concerto in D major at the Salzburg Festival with none other than Herbert von Karajan and Anne-Sophie Mutter.
5 years later
the Orchestra was rehearsing and performing Beethoven's Overture Leonora No. 3 and Bernstein' Symphony No.3 "Kaddish" with Barbara Hendricks, Michael Wager and the Osaka Children's Choir in Hiroshima with Leonard Bernstein.
Then jump forward 40 years
to the European Union Youth Orchestra recording the European Anthem in an arrangement by Herbert von Karajan at its Summer Home and Principal Venue Partner Grafenegg.
Now let's have a look at the bigger picture
of the Orchestra performing the full Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D Minor Op. 125 - Ode to Joy at the Young Euro Classic Festival at the Konzerthaus in Berlin in summer 2019.
And finally
a full concert recording featuring conductor Gianandrea Noseda, pianist Beatrice Rana and Italian and Maltese EUYO members and alumni, performing Beethoven's - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 and Franz Schubert's - Symphony No. 3 in D major, D 200 from 21 August 2020 at the Teatro Claudio Abbado in Ferrara.