Beethoven Now

Road to Joy

Marking the bicentenary of Beethoven’s death in March 1827, this season Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Mark Wigglesworth begin a chronological journey through Beethoven’s symphonies. Eight concerts will span the 2026/27 season and the first half of 2027/28.

One of the great musical journeys, the genius of Beethoven, from his First Symphony written at the age of 29 through to his Ninth written in 1824 just 3 years before his death, incorporated a life of challenge and courage, love and loss, resulting in music that inspires millions wherever and whenever it is played.

Beethoven changed music more than any other composer and profoundly changed what our relationship to it can be. His music is about us, and like Shakespeare, we feel he understands who we are and what our lives are like. We feel heard by him. All of his symphonies are roads to joy and to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of his death with an 18-month project that celebrates each of the symphonies in turn is a timeless and timely opportunity to engage in what Beethoven means to us today.

Beethoven Now

In addition to their performances of the symphonies, the BSO will host a series of special events across this and next season engaging with Beethoven beyond the music – through performance, discussion, and debate.

The Beethoven Now sessions will feature themed discussions exploring Beethoven’s life and demonstrating how he is as relevant now as when he first composed his symphonies. With special guest speakers and contributions from well-known figures, the series will draw parallels with the society we live in today and add new levels of insight to the appreciation of Beethoven’s music.

The first session explores Beethoven the man, the second looks at his music, and the third asks what role Beethoven plays in society today.