During the renovation of the Beethovenhalle, the Beethoven-Haus Bonn took the bust into safekeeping and placed it in the Chamber Music Hall so that it was not exposed to any risks on the construction site and remained accessible to visitors from all over the world. Now the Beethoven bust is back in its original place in the Beethoven Hall. This marks a further step towards the completion of the hall.

On Wednesday, 9 April, Bonn's mayor Katja Dörner, together with Dr. Matthieu Osmont, director of the Institut français Bonn, and Renate Hendricks, chairwoman of the ProBeethovenhalle association, unveiled Beethoven's likeness in the large foyer - 65 years after it had found its permanent place there. The ProBeethovenhalle Association financed the restoration and return of the bust through donations.

“As the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven, Bonn is not only a place of historical significance, but also a symbol of the connection between music, culture and history, and not least as a place of democracy for Franco-German friendship,” said Mayor Katja Dörner. “I am therefore delighted that, thanks to the great commitment of the ProBeethovenhalle association, we can welcome the Beethoven bust back to its traditional place. Today also symbolizes further progress towards the completion of the Beethovenhalle. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this return!”

Renate Hendricks was also delighted about the return of the artwork to the Beethovenhalle: “The bust is not only a symbol of Franco-German friendship, but also gives the Beethovenhalle an additional Beethoven profile. “Our association is very keen to support the restoration of the listed hall. Sometimes it is the art in the building that requires special attention within a major project - such as the restoration and return of works of art. These objects always require special care in handling and also the provision of the appropriate funds, which the association was happy to provide.”

“As you know, Bourdelle had a deep passion for Beethoven, whom he immortalized in various busts throughout his career. It is therefore a particular pleasure to see this work by Bourdelle today, which is so faithful to his passion for Beethoven and at the same time a symbol of the link between two great French and German artists,” emphasized Dr. Matthieu Osmont. “Today's event shows us that their work remains alive beyond their respective eras. The bust is not only a tribute to Beethoven, but also a sign of the strong links between Bonn and France, both historical and contemporary.”

Sculptor Bourdelle created the Beethoven bust around 1902. The bronze bust came to Bonn as a gift from France for the first Franco-German cultural agreement in the early 1950s. Before the opening of the Beethovenhalle on September 8, 1959, it was placed in the Great Foyer in front of the mural by Joseph Faßbender. At the base of the bust are the inscriptions “Moi je suis Bacchus qui pressure pour les hommes le nectar délicieux” (I am Bacchus, who presses the delicious nectar for the people) and “Paroles de Van Beethoven” (Words of Van Beethoven).

Beethoven is looking at the foundation stone of the Beethovenhalle, which contains earth from Beethoven's grave in Vienna. The inscription on the foundation stone contains the world-embracing phrase from the 9th Symphony “All men become brothers.”

It was important to those responsible for the construction of the Beethovenhalle that the hall should become a center for the “cultivation of Beethoven's music” and a “symbol and rallying point for all efforts towards cultural brotherhood and community”. It is therefore all the more pleasing that the state gift of the Bourdelle bust to the City of Bonn can be seen as the first sign of the preparation of Franco-German friendship. This is just as important for Germany and Europe today as it was 75 years ago.

Bourdelle's Beethoven bust had been on loan to the chamber music hall of the Beethoven-Haus since 2016 and was part of the special exhibition “BTHVN - Outlook for the anniversary year 2020”. Director Malte Boecker, Managing Director of the Beethoven-Haus Bonn, and curator Dr. Julia Ronge welcome the return of the important Beethoven bust to its place of origin.

On the occasion of the return of the Beethoven bust, Steffen Göbel, project manager for the refurbishment of the Beethovenhalle, reported briefly on the status of the current work, which is running according to budget and schedule. All works of art and furnishings such as chairs and furniture should be installed by the 2025 summer vacation. On September 1, 2025, the completed Beethovenhalle will be handed over to the user, Bonn Conference Center Management GmbH, for trial operation. 

The opening concert with the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn will take place on December 16, 2025.