BTHVN ON TOUR

The unprecedented 'BTHVN on Tour' exhibition has begun two years of travelling around the globe to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's birth in 2020.

With his timeless music, Beethoven is considered a radical and visionary artist to this day. And the ideals of liberty and fraternity, which he so passionately championed in his life and music, are as relevant as ever in our world.

In the wake of this big jubilee, Beethoven-Haus Bonn and DHL have joined together to develop the 'BTHVN on Tour' exhibition and put it on display around the globe.

Original exhibit pieces and high-quality facsimile reproductions created especially for the project have been combined with multimedia technology to give visitors a fascinating look into the life and work of Beethoven. Among the rare exhibit items are an ear trumpet used by the composer and an original print from Andy Warhol’s 1987 Beethoven Series. Multimedia displays – including an animated depiction of Beethoven’s hand writing the manuscript of his famous Diabelli Variations – will bring visitors closer to the composer and his creative processes.

From start to finish, DHL is handling all logistics for ‘BTHVN on Tour’, including transportation and setup. For each stage of the tour, DHL will be shipping seven tons of artifacts and materials by truck and by air, covering a total of 50,000 kilometers over two years.

As partner to a number of renowned orchestras and museums, DHL has extensive experience transporting highly valuable, delicate instruments and exhibit items. The original Beethoven pieces will be packed individually in tailor-made transport crates; these feature custom-fit padding and special seals/closures to protect items from damage due to shock, vibrations or changes in temperature. The special containers will be transported using DHL Smart Sensor tracking technology to ensure that constant temperature and humidity levels are maintained.