“When the statue was unveiled, it unfortunately had its back turned to us.” So wrote Queen Victoria in her diary after the unveiling of Beethoven’s statue in Bonn Münsterplatz on 12 August 1845. A certain Hector Berlioz was also annoyed by the event and reported that, due to the vast crowds packed into the square, it was impossible to reach the Münster.

The ‘crowd’ was somewhat smaller on Wednesday for the 181st anniversary of the statues unveiling. The baritone voice of Falko Hönisch carried across the square in the humid Summer air, accompanied by Martin Wiemer’s piano. at least the dignitaries present in 2026 from Bürger für Beethoven, were seated facing Hähnel’s celebrated statue this time.

Beethoven himself died in March 1827 but it took some time, and important celebrities too, including Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt, to organize a monument. The City of Bonn itself wasn’t interested, so the ‘Verein für Beethoven’s Monument’ was created whose work continues today as ‘Bürger für Beethoven’.

As there was controversy recently over Markus Lüpertz’ ‘Hommage to Beethoven’ at Stadtgarten, so there was controversy too over the statue that was erected in 1845. Many wanted a more heroic, Godlike pose as was popular then. The final choice was for Beethoven to look like Beethoven. As Victoria noted – it is accurate right down to its moody temperament.