In 2020, we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, the most frequently performed classical composer in the world and one of the most important ambassadors for German and European culture. His works belong to the cultural heritage of all humanity. Interest in his music has remained unabated for centuries and become a global phenomenon.

In order to honour this anniversary, the Namibian National Symphony Orchestra (NNSO), together with the choir Cantare Audire Camerata, had planned to perform a large Beethoven concert with choir and orchestra in 2020. However, due to COVID-19, the concert had to be postponed to 2021 and is now scheduled for the 26^th and 27^th November 2021. The choir, under direction of Martina Visser, was enlarged with additional singers for this production and started rehearsing online when in-person rehearsals were not yet possible and when it was uncertain whether the concert could take place at all.

The German Embassy is proud to financially support this concert with 17,500.00 EURO (approx. 300,000.00 NAD). The funding agreement was signed by Irmgard Rannersmann of the NNSO and Dr. Andreas Götze, Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy on 24 September 2021.

Irmgard Rannersmann says: “We are so thankful for everybody who supports this dream from Cantare Audire and NNSO to combine choir and symphony orchestra to perform such a beautiful piece of music as the Mass in C from Beethoven. It seemed almost impossible for a long time and now all the little bits and pieces came together. The German Embassy gave us the financial support we needed and now we can do much more than just dream – we can make the dream come true.”

Mr. Christian Ludwig, who just recently conducted the Concerto Festival 2021 with huge success, will come back to Windhoek to bring out the best of all the singers and musicians. The soloists will be Emiliy Dangwa (soprano), Alida van der Walt (alto), Jaques du Preez (tenor) and Bernaby Coetzee (bass).

Dr. Götze stated: “Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of Germany’s literary ”heroes“, once claimed that music is higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. I think this is quite true, and music is a universal language that brings people, minds and souls together. Beethoven’s music does just that, and the Embassy is proud to support the concert project in memory of this great composer who is part of our cultural heritage and presence.”

The concerts will take place at the National Theatre of Namibia in Windhoek and feature guest musicians from Germany and South Africa. For more information please contact the NNSO at: info@nnso.info or have a look at www.nnso.info