GERMANY

GERMANY is the most economically developed country in Europe and the fourth worldwide. Its territorial borders are Denmark to the north, Poland to the east, the Czech Republic and Austria to the southeast, Liechtenstein and Switzerland to the south, France to the southwest, and Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands (Holland) to the west. Its northern coasts are bordered by the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

The official language is German, although there are some regional dialects derived from the same linguistic root. The German capital is Berlin, one of the most dynamic multicultural cities in all of Europe. However, between 1949 and 1990, when the country was divided in two, the capital of West Germany was Bonn, whose historical fame is undoubtedly due to the fact that Beethoven was born there in 1770. Bonn is a relatively small city located south of Cologne and on the banks of the Rhine-Ruhr river, famous for its white wines.

Germany is a country that has contributed great figures to world culture (Goethe, Humboldt), philosophy (Kant, Marx, Nietzsche, Heidegger), religion (Luther), painting (Klee, Ernst), literature (Grimm, Grass, Herta Müller - Nobel Prize 2009), and music (Bach, Strauss). One of the many Germans who have contributed to culture is none other than Ludwig van Beethoven, born in Bonn on December 16, 1770, and who passed away in Vienna on March 26, 1827. This year, 2020, marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of this great pianist, composer, and conductor who ventured into Classicism and Romanticism (unfortunately, 2020 will be remembered as the year of Covid-19 and not as the year of Beethoven). His legacy to classical music is invaluable and decisive for the evolution of music as an art, regardless of genres.

Casa Europa México recommends...

To be part of the worldwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, how about enjoying the 2nd Symphony performed by the Vienna Philharmonic and conducted by Christian Thielemann, thanks to YouTube?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=113&v=3MGXpakCu9I&feature=emb_logo

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Text adaptation: Homero Adame