Beethoven is one of music’s most mythologised geniuses. In his own lifetime, he was a radical champion of individual expression in an age of violent social change. Today, ringtones bleep Für Elise and protesters in Parliament Square sing the ‘Ode to Joy’. We can attack him, revere him or just enjoy him. We can – and must – interrogate and challenge him. But we can’t ignore him.

So we’re filling a weekend with talks, installations, exhibitions and his music. From a full symphony cycle by five of the UK’s top orchestras – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Vasily Petrenko, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Kirill Karabits, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Royal Northern Sinfonia & Lars Vogt, and Hallé & Sir Mark Elder – to the most delicate piano miniatures, join us as we search for the man behind the myth.

1 Feb schedule

10am & 6pm, FreeStage Beethoven Bites
11am, Hall Beethoven’s Symphonies: Nos 5 & 6 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Vasily Petrenko
1pm & 5pm, The Pit Beethoven’s Quartets: Music, love, life and letters
1.15pm & 5.15pm, Milton Court Beethoven’s Violin
1.30pm & 5.30pm, LSO St Luke’s Bagatelles: A composer at play
2.15pm, FreeStage Beethoven NEIN! mv I: Alone
3pm, Hall Beethoven’s Symphonies: Nos 1 & 3 - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Kirill Karabits
7pm, Hall Beethoven’s Symphonies: Nos 2 & 4 - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla

Always on throughout the day
Fountain Room Beethoven NEIN! mv II: Together
Mezzanine BTHVN on Tour exhibition
Level G Studio Squish Space
Conservatory Beethoven Bites

2 Feb schedule

11am & 2pm, Silk Street Music Hall ‘Ah, Ludwig!’
12.15pm & 4pm, Milton Court Beethoven’s Violin
12.30pm & 4.30pm, LSO St Luke’s Bagatelles: A composer at play
12.45pm, The Pit Music & deafness panel discussion
1.30pm, FreeStage Beethoven NEIN! mv III: Apart
2pm, Hall Beethoven’s Symphonies: Nos 7 & 8 - Royal Northern Sinfonia & Lars Vogt
3.45pm & 7.30pm, The Pit Beethoven’s Quartets: Music, love, life & letters
5pm & 7.30pm, FreeStage Beethoven Bites
6pm, Hall Beethoven’s Symphonies: No 9 - Hallé & Sir Mark Elder
9pm, Hall Beethoven NEIN! mv IV: Retreat

Always on throughout the day
Fountain Room Beethoven NEIN! mv II: Together
Mezzanine BTHVN on Tour exhibition
Level G Studio Squish Space
Conservatory Beethoven Bites