A musical moment at Zagreb Airport marked 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birthday

(Photo: Zagreb Airport)

“Beethoven Moment” at Franjo Tuđman Airport 

Zagreb, December 17, 2020 – Beethoven’s music filled every corner of the Franjo Tuđman Airport yesterday (December 16, 2020). At exactly 2:50 p.m., local time, the 3-minute opening piece of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony with a short video was broadcast. 

The distinctive music of this great composer attracted the attention of passengers, crews, visitors and staff who found themselves at the airport. In this way, Zagreb joined the initiative to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the great composer. It was the Beethoven Moment in Zagreb. 

Airports across Europe and beyond marked the occasion with a special event – the so-called Beethoven Moment. It is an international cultural event with a goal to unite people from different countries in a moment of contemplation inspired by the timeless music of Beethoven. 

The initial idea was simple – a surprising encounter with Beethoven’s music that would inspire fans, and even people with relatively little interest in classical music, to remember this great composer. In the current situation, Beethoven Moment has gained additional meaning – the health crisis and its social implications emphasize how interconnected we all are, and Beethoven’s music helps to celebrate the spirit of human unity and resilience.

Beethoven Moment is a private non-profit initiative supported by the Beethoven Anniversary Society (Beethoven Jubiläums GmbH), the Digital Orchestra that provided the music and airports that participated in this project.