Dirk Kaftan
Meet our General Music Director
The Beethoven Orchestra Bonn is a passionate ambassador for music, carrying the spirit of Bonn out into the world. In December 2025, the orchestra returned to its home, the Beethovenhalle, following extensive renovations and acoustic upgrades. This historic venue, deeply intertwined with the city’s heritage, has once again become a vibrant meeting place where music connects people and strengthens cultural identity.
Deeply rooted in the region, the ensemble is an active part of the local community, consciously bringing its music into public spaces and neighborhoods. Through educational programs, school partnerships, and cross-generational cultural projects, the orchestra fosters dialogue and active participation. Its ‚b.jung‘ program offers children and young people creative, hands-on musical experiences. Led with immense enthusiasm by General Music Director Dirk Kaftan and music educator Clara Gölz, these initiatives reach thousands of young people every year, lowering barriers and making music accessible to everyone.
The 2026/2027 season promises artistic highlights featuring internationally renowned soloists and guest conductors, including Sharon Kam, Karen Kamensek, Chen Reiss, Antje Weithaas, Maximilian Hornung, and Joseph Moog, alongside the WDR and BR choirs. Bridging musical performance and public discourse, the program also features contributions from the wider cultural sphere: former President of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert will join Dirk Kaftan to discuss ‘The Art of Freedom,’ while TV presenter and producer Bettina Böttinger will host two concert evenings.
At the same time, the orchestra continues its dedication to the ‚Hofkapelle‘ series, exploring works Beethoven performed during his youth in Bonn—a project that has already yielded two celebrated recordings.
We are in the middle of it. In Beethoven. In Bonn. We tell exciting stories with and without words. To look at the past together, explain it anew and then take the good with us into the change that every era brings.
Dirk Kaftan
From its historic opera performances, such as Franz Schreker’s acclaimed „Irrelohe“, to its award-winning recording of Beethoven’s „Egmont“ (recipient of the 2020 OPUS KLASSIK), the orchestra’s versatility defines its profile. This is further highlighted by cross-genre collaborations like the 2021 project „Alles Tutti!“ with the Cologne rock band Brings.
Since its founding in 1907, the orchestra has shaped the cultural landscape under the baton of legendary conductors like Richard Strauss, Max Reger, Volker Wangenheim, and Kurt Masur. Today, under Dirk Kaftan, it ranks among Germany’s leading ensembles, captivating audiences at home and abroad.
In recognition of its innovative, participatory approach and openness to new musical horizons, the orchestra was awarded the European Culture Prize—a testament to the enduring, unifying power of Beethoven’s legacy.