Dear music lovers,
It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I invite you to the 2024 edition of the Beethoven Festival in Beaune, under the theme of “Exposition Est”.
Next year, we embark on a remarkable musical journey, exploring the rich and captivating sounds of Eastern Europe in harmony with our beloved Beethoven and other cherished composers.
We will present the works of three major composers for the first time in our festival: Smetana, Dvořák, and Messiaen with his transcendent ‘Quartet for the End of Time,’ composed in Poland in 1940 while he was a prisoner of war.
As we venture into this unexplored territory, we will embrace the most lyrical melodies, complex harmonies, and profound emotions that these composers have bequeathed to us. Their works will resonate with the historic venues of Beaune, brimming with cultural and artistic expression.
I am also delighted to announce two other premieres for our festival: the world premiere of an Impromptu, which will be our first commissioned work by composer Éric Montalbetti, and an enchanting first collaboration with a wind instrument, the clarinet.
These innovations will open new horizons, expanding the range of sounds and textures that will envelop our Beaune audience in a symphony of enchantment.
Prepare to be captivated, moved, and inspired, and welcome to the 2024 Beethoven Festival in Beaune!
Sung-Won Yang, artistic director
photo Jean Lim