Three Questions to: Ricarda Rommerscheidt
What connects you with the life and work of Beethoven or not?
I was born in Beethoven's birthplace Bonn and still live and work here today. After World War II, my father completed his high school diploma at the Beethoven Gymnasium; my daughter received her diploma there last year. I myself studied at the Juridicum across the street.
Now - in 2026 - the Beethoven Gymnasium celebrates its 400th anniversary. According to old records, the gymnasium was expanded into an academy at that time and became part of the University of Bonn with imperial approval from Vienna. In 1798, Ludwig van Beethoven is listed there as a student. In 1925, the school finally received the name of the greatest son of the city of Bonn.
(Source: General-Anzeiger Bonn, 15.01.26)
Why are you going on this fictional journey with Beethoven and us this year?
I encounter Beethoven as a brand, as a tourist magnet here in Bonn daily - so often that I haven't really noticed him for a long time. He is practically everywhere in the form of small sculptures, souvenirs, pastries, chocolates, or as a namesake for public infrastructure: street, square, parking garage, ship, orchestra, hall, school…
Since I have been involved in this project, I walk through the city again with open eyes and ears, looking for all traces of Beethoven - real ones from the past, art in his honor, to 'Tineff' (knick-knacks in souvenir shops) with his 'logo' on it. I have made it my task to photograph everything related to it.
What excites me about this interdisciplinary art project is the search for aspects of Beethoven that we look at anew together, reflect upon, which flow into our works and thus perhaps enable new, different, or current access to his work - to him himself - especially for people (like me) who are not so classical music-affine.
Have there been events in your life that were directly or indirectly related to Beethoven?
Three come to mind spontaneously:
As a teenager, I was 'persuaded' to show my father's godson around Bonn. Alongside the government district (back when Bonn was still the capital), Beethoven's birthplace was also on the agenda - so I saw it from the inside for the first (and so far last) time.
After a completely delayed train journey, I dragged myself tiredly through the city center to get home. Suddenly, music sounded, making me walk faster and more joyfully - the 'Ode to Joy' was being sung in our marketplace (traditionally at the end of the Bonn Festival every September) and I arrived home in the best of moods.
On a vacation, we had a hotel with a piano. Our daughter sat down at it, took out her phone, and played 'Für Elise' following YouTube instructions. She doesn't actually play any instrument, but after a while, it didn't sound so bad.