In the light

DW: It was during Beethoven's lifetime that the musical soloist developed into an artistic personality and even moved into the limelight. Appropriately, "In the light" is the theme of this year's Beethovenfest, which begins on Thursday. Ms. Schmiel, what does this theme really mean?

Ilona Schmiel: It is focused on unusual and fascinating artistic perspectives and on important ways that orchestras position themselves now and in the future. It means pointing out not just the artist, as a star in the limelight, but that there's also been a development of the orchestra's positioning in the world.

For example, we won't explain Beethoven's Fifth Symphony once again in the pre-concert talk, but the orchestra manager or someone else who identifies themselves with the profile of the orchestra will come and talk about the history of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, or the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. These orchestras are a synonym for the development of a whole region.

We're looking at the future because here in Bonn we're planning a new festival concert hall for Beethoven. We have to discuss the future of the concert.

What impact has the ongoing financial crisis had on this year's Beethovenfest?

We are really lucky that we haven't felt any aspects of this crisis. I don't even want to use the word "crisis" because I think we have had a crisis in mentality and in cultural life for many years now. It's more a question of how we can behave and live with each other in difficult economic situations.

Our sponsors are very, very good partners. Not one of them cancelled this year. They even helped us more financially this year than in 2008.

We all sat together and concluded that the ticket price cannot go up. In the end, we solved this problem and were able to reduce the ticket prices. And we have more tickets than ever before - 48,000. We thought that we have to give our audience the idea that they are very special people and we would like to thank them for 10 years of the Beethovenfest. This year is our 10 year anniversary.

This year, it's possible - wherever you are in the world - to tune in to the festival via Deutsche Welle's live-stream of the nine Beethoven symphonies from Sept. 9-12. Does this add a whole new dimension to the festival?

Of course. I hope we will reach a new dimension. We'll have all the (Beethoven) symphonies on DVD. It's possible to buy it afterwards. But you can also listen to the live-streaming of all four concerts by the German Chamber Philharmonic Bremen. That means that there are many more possibilities for people to attend the festival.

As you said, the Beethoven symphony cycle this year is being performed by the German Chamber Philharmonic Bremen with conductor Paaro Jarvi. What's particular about Jarvi's interpretation of Beethoven?

First of all, they are playing with a small orchestra - it's really a chamber orchestra version. They have a special interpretation of the symphonies concerning the tempo, dynamics and even the very attitude toward orchestral playing. They play at the edge of their seats, with high energy and I think it's one of the hottest interpretations around right now.

Interview: Breandain O'Shea (kjb)

Editor: Sean Sinico