2020 marks 250 years since the birth of legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven and Amadeus River Cruises has planned two special itineraries to help people commemorate this. Having been born in Bonn and living much of his life in Vienna, Beethoven has ties to both the Rhine and the Danube, and these rivers will host the anniversary river cruises.

Whether you choose ‘Beethoven Cruise on the Rhine’, departing 27th October, or ‘Classical Music on the Danube’, departing 29th October, there are many ways you can celebrate the great man’s life and work.

Visit Beethoven’s House, Bonn

In December 1770, Beethoven was born in a house on Bonngasse in the town of Bonn, just outside of Cologne. Today, the building and those adjacent to it have been preserved as Beethoven’s House, displaying the largest collection of the composer’s artefacts in the world. The exhibits include manuscripts, instruments that were played by Beethoven himself and some of the original furniture from the house.

After you have toured the interesting museum, you will enjoy a private piano concert in the Chamber Music Hall, featuring piano sonata No. 14, Opus 27, No. 2 in C Minor and Piano sonata No. 21 in C Major, Opus 53.

Numerous Museums, Vienna

In total, Beethoven spent 35 years living in the Austrian capital. During that time, he is said to have lived at 68 different addresses, all of which you can see marked on a map in the House of Music. This interactive museum also features a station where you can experience what it would have been like for Beethoven to gradually lose his hearing.

This is by no means the only museum to explore during your free time in Vienna, though. There are three others entirely dedicated to Beethoven – the Pasqualati House Museum, where he once lived; the Eroica House Museum, which looks closely at his Third Symphony; and the Beethoven Museum, where you’ll see a box that was placed on top of his piano to amplify the sound.

Of course, Vienna is also the city in which Beethoven died. You can pay your respects at his final resting place in the Central Cemetery, where other composers like Brahms, Strauss and Schubert are also laid to rest.

Organ Concert In The St. Thomas Church, Strasbourg

The St. Thomas Church stands out as one of the architectural highlights in Strasbourg. Built in its present form in 1196, it stands in the place where Irish monks originally built a wooden church. Its fantastic acoustics are perfect for musical recitals and that’s exactly what you’ll be treated to during your Rhine River cruise. An organ concert will be held here, featuring the music of Bach, Handel, Mozart and, of course, Beethoven.

Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum, Rüdesheim

If you enjoy music in general, which is likely to be the case if you are sailing on either of these itineraries, the Mechanical Music Museum in Rüdesheim will be music to your ears. Or, as the website puts it, ‘your ears will be all eyes’. This celebrated attraction has been known to surpass many a visitor’s expectations and displays 350 mechanical instruments from three different centuries.

Regular Concerts On Board

Throughout both of these cruises, your evenings will be brought to life by live performances on board the ship. Talented musicians will fill the vessel with the sound of classical music, as they recreate some of the most famous pieces from the likes of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. Amongst the special guests welcomed on board will be the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Stuttgarter String Quartet and the Salzburg Soloists. Some of these private concerts will take place during fantastic occasions such as the Captain’s Gala Dinner and a memorable farewell evening.

If you would like to know more about these Beethoven 250th Anniversary cruises with Amadeus, call us today. You can speak to the team on 0800 954 0064 or contact us through the website.