BTHVN 2020

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770−1827) wrote the six songs in An die ferne Geliebte in 1816, to poems by the Austrian Alois Jeitteles. The six songs do not form a coherent story, but have the same theme: the longing for the beloved. There are many indications that the songs were written with Beethoven's own unattainable, "immortal" (and unknown) beloved in mind.

Beethoven wrote his Symphony No. 3, nicknamed "Eroica", in 1803 and 1804, and it was performed publicly for the first time in Vienna in 1805. The starting point for the symphony was Beethoven's admiration for Napoleon Bonaparte, who in previous years had gained increasing power and influence.

The first version of the symphony had "Bounaparte" as the title on the front page. But when Beethoven heard that Napoleon had been crowned emperor, he destroyed the title page in anger. He later changed the title to "Sinfonia Eroica − written to celebrate the memory of a great man".

Oslo joins in when the whole world celebrates Beethoven's 250th anniversary! From 4th to 15th November, Norwegian and international top performers will celebrate Beethoven's musical and humanistic heritage, through twelve days of concerts, performances, lectures and events throughout Oslo.