Three questions for: Jos Diegel

First, of course, the inevitable: Ta-ta-ta-Taaammm and Joy, beautiful spark of the gods (lacht...). Aber darüber hinaus war Beethoven aus heutiger Sicht wohl der erste echte Popstar der klassischen Musik. Er wird als eine zeitlose Figur wahrgenommen, die bis heute musikalische and kulturelle Diskurse beeinflusst. Das wirft für mich die Frage auf, welche Rolle die Kultur, die künstlerische Freiheit and gerade das Experimentelle für unser gesellschaftliches Zusammenleben spielen: Kunst ist eben kein bloßes Beiwerk, sondern ein zentraler Motor für den Diskurs.

I am not actually that well-versed in Beethoven's work. However, what strongly influences me is Friedrich Schiller's philosophy on aesthetic education. That's why I appreciate Beethoven's setting of 'Ode to Joy' in the fourth movement of his 9th Symphony so much: He gave Schiller's appeal for freedom, unity, and humanity a universal voice and made it world-famous. This global work accompanies millions of people through their lives – and it will probably remain so forever.

I have always been intrigued by the question of why Ludwig has a 'van' and not a 'von' in his name. In Dutch names, 'van' simply denotes the place of origin – a parallel to the Dutch part of my own family. There is also a fascinating, albeit tragic historical connection: A namesake of mine, Josyne van Beethoven from Kampenhout, was supposedly an ancestor of Ludwig's. She was defamed as a witch in 1595 and burned at the stake in the Grand-Place in Brussels.