ANNIVERSARY CONCERT of BTHVN2020

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra has been an established name in the international music world for more than 20 years. Daniel Barenboim founded it together with Edward W. Said in 1999 - with the aim of facilitating dialogue between the different cultures of the Middle East through the experience of making music together. The orchestra has performed the Beethoven symphonies in the world's great concert halls: in Berlin and New York, in Asia and South America, at the Salzburg Festival and the famous BBC Proms.

In the spirit of the anniversary celebrations, the anniversary concert also aims to set a social and political signal. The 5th symphony in particular is intended to be a signal of hope in the year 2020 marked by Corona. It begins with tragic vehemence in C minor, but ends in radiant, triumphant C major, thus following the motto "per aspera ad astra", "From darkness to light".

The ceremonial address will be delivered by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany and patron of the Beethoven Anniversary BTHVN2020.

• 20:15 Live on 3 Sat, DW television and in affiliated EBU institutions
   
• Video streaming on WDR.de, bthvn2020.de and Deutsche Welle
   
• Live on the radio: WDR and affiliated ARD and EBU stations
   
• 22:15 on WDR television as prelude to "The Great Beethoven Night"
  www.wdr.de/programmvorschau/wdr3/sendung/2020-12-17/44297857/wdr-3-die-grosse-beethoven-nacht.html