Beethoven 2020

Celebrating Beethoven's 250th Anniversary 

The year 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of one of the world’s most popular composers, Ludwig van Beethoven. His music and influence spread across the globe, with the Lobkowicz Collections being no exception. As the Collections feature a number of Beethoven’s most famous works, we’ve created a portal for our visitors who want to learn more about the world-renowned composer. 

Follow along as we celebrate the man who gifted us with his revolutionary compositions and took the musical world by storm!

Beethoven and the House of Lobkowicz

Symphony No. 3 (Eroica)

This is the very first printed edition of instrumental parts for Beethoven’s famous Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, known as the Eroica. The symphony was originally called “Bonaparte” and was intended to be dedicated to Napoleon. However, when Napoleon declared himself Emperor, a disillusioned Beethoven decided to rename the symphony and dedicate it to his life-long patron and music lover, Franz Joseph Maximilian, 7th Prince Lobkowicz (1772–1816).

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The Beethoven Room

The musical treasures displayed in this exhibition offer a rare glimpse into the music-making and connoisseurship of the Lobkowicz family. Beginning with Ferdinand August, 3rd Prince Lobkowicz (1655–1715), each new generation has produced highly accomplished musical amateurs who studied and played themselves, while also commissioning new works and cultivating musical performances in private and public spheres.
 

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