There’s nothing I like more than to go home after a hard day’s work, pour myself a glass of fine German Riesling wine and listen to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor.
Actually, listening to Beethoven is what a lot of people will be doing in 2020 as Germany celebrates the 250th anniversary of the great man’s birth with a number of major celebrations planned throughout Europe’s most intriguing country.
Born Ludwig van Beethoven in 1770 in Bonn, arguably Germany’s greatest composer, quickly rose to he top of the Medieval charts with hits like Bagatelle in A Minor, Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Egmont, Opera 84, Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Symphony No. 9 in D Minor and many more.
In fact, over his illustrious career, Beethoven composed 700 works, among them nine symphonies, 32 piano sonatas, one opera, five piano concertos and many chamber works, including some ground-breaking string quartets.  
Even the Beatles paid homage to the great composer when they re-recorded Chuck Berry’s 1956 version of “Roll Over Beethoven” in 1963, and the song quickly leaped to the top of the pop charts.

Above: There are statues of Beethoven scattered across Germany, where the great composer's 250th birthday will be celebrated this year.

While Beethoven’s music has become some of the most listened to in history, ironically, by the age of 44, the great composer was unable to hear his own works. Plagued by hearing problems from his early 20s, Beethoven fell totally deaf by 44 but apparently kept his condition secret, known only to his closest friends.
“For two years I have avoided almost all social gatherings because it is impossible for me to say to people ‘I am deaf,’ ” Beethoven said in an 1812 letter to a friend. “If I belonged to any other profession it would be easier, but in my profession it is a frightful state.”
Despite his hearing issues, Beethoven continued to write beautiful music almost up until to the time of his death in 1827.

Left: Beethoven's statues under a light show. Right: Score in Beethoven's own hand.

Germany actually kicked off its Beethoven Birthday celebrations in 2019 but the biggest events are planned for the spring, summer and fall of 2020.
Major German cities, where Beethoven either lived or worked – Bonn, Berlin, Koblenz, Dresden, Wiesbaden, Hamburg, Cologne, Nuremberg and Leipzig, among them – have big events planned honouring the legendary composer.
If you’re planning a holiday to Germany this year, consider June because on June 12 they’ll be holding an open-air performance of Beethoven’s only opera with fabulous Schwerin Castle in Fidelio as the backdrop. Later that month, on June 20, Beethoven’s greatest works will one performed in the enchanting gardens of Rheinsberg Palace.
A Beethoven birthday bash in Germany is music to my ears.
 
JUST THE FACTS
 
For a complete list of events surrounding Beethoven’s 250th birthday bash, go to http://www.germany.travel/en
 
Air Canada and Lufthansa offer daily service from several Canadian cities to Frankfurt and Munich.