The Bonn Opera House can finally welcome an audience again on August 28, and then with a red carpet ennobled by so many celebrities: Star violinist David Garrett leads the ranks of international guests at the presentation of the European Culture Awards. Among others, top model Barbara Meier, figure skating heroine Katarina Witt, sustainability activist Nico Rosberg, star trumpeter Till Brönner, the Scorpions, singer Heinz Rudolf Kunze and Tobias Moretti will be guests with him.

Under the patronage of the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, the gala is all about Ludwig van Beethoven, whose anniversary BTHVN2020 will be celebrated on the occasion of his 250th birthday up to and including September 2021. Numerous top-class artists come together on the big opera stage, led by the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, which has just been appointed UN climate ambassador, under the direction of its general music director Dirk Kaftan. Presenter and soprano Annette Dasch and cultural journalist Axel Brüggemann will lead through the evening. Songwriter Katie Melua, the Scorpions and Till Brönner each perform their own newly arranged pieces together with the orchestra. "It is a great honor for us to be nominated for the European Culture Prize and to be able to perform live in front of our audience again after such a long time. The developments of the past few years have made it clear to us that we all have to take care of our earth together. The European Culture Prize is a wonderful signal to us artists not only to live the European idea, but also to network worldwide in order to actively help shape the great challenges of the future. As a UN ambassador, the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn feels particularly motivated and committed to this,” says Dirk Kaftan.