After exhibitions about David Bowie and Marc Chagall, the Paris Philharmonic offers a new approach to understanding the influence one of the central figures of European and worldwide music, the composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

Here’s all the info.

The Beethovian ‘myth” crosses artistic genres, extends beyond cultural and geographic boundaries whilst also becoming the sign of a tradition, a symbol of modernism endlessly reinvented.

There’s and adulation or fascination around the man, homages and some less respectful references, in more areas than just music. The composer seems to remain ‘untouched’  by all the recuperation – some of it of a doubtful nature – of his image or his music, a unique case that very much deserves to be explored through an exhibition.

You’ll see, for example, how Beethoven influenced artists as diverse as Gustav Klimt, Pierre Henry and Stanley Kubrick.

The visual and audio experience contains more than 250 pieces – performances, ads, funeral masks, propaganda posters, architectural models…

For the sound, the exhibition explores the posterity of the composer since his death in 1827, through other musical works including current and popular tunes, in particular experimentation in electronic music.

Each visitor receives a free audioguide with its own headphones at the entrance of the exhibition, allowing visitors to listen to music and listen to commentary.

In addition to the exhibition itself there are numerous concerts on offer (for example, all of the piano sonatas), there are guided visits and a catalogue is being published by Gallimard, available ici at amazon.fr (35€).

L’exposition Ludwig van – Beethoven myth is at the Paris Philharmonic (here) until 29th January 2017

Open Tuesday to Friday from midday to 6pm (10pm Friday) and the weekend from 10am-8pm. Closed Monday

Admission: 10€ (which also includes entry to the permanent collection and the MMM exhibition)

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A photo posted by Philharmonie de Paris (@philharmoniedeparis) on Oct 12, 2016 at 9:05am PDT