Taking Beethoven down from his pedestal – that has often been attempted. Now he is mixing up the world of computer games as a rapper in "BEETHOVEN // OPUS 360". On Saturday, 16 September, the virtual Beethoven comes to the Tonhalle Zurich.
"Well, are you still up for it? We've already seen some nice battles," a rapper greets the jeering crowd and looks for a new opponent. "Who's next? Who's got the guts? You?" He seems very sure of himself and asks swankily, "Beethoven?! Who the hell is Beethoven, ey?" The young composer's reply is true to style: "Let it begin like this!"
Immersing oneself in virtual worlds, competing with others, gaming or in a rap battle – this is familiar terrain for young people as far as it goes. Only this time, the main person stepping into the ring of the virtual reality game is: Beethoven. It is often emphasised that he was already celebrated like a pop star during his lifetime. And it is precisely as such that you can now meet him, as the rapper Beethoven.
The inventors of the game, Arthur and Victor Abs, and their production team are between 20 and 24 years old. The two brothers from Bonn wanted to take up the cudgels for classical music, because they know from their everyday lives that it hardly plays a role among young people: "We want everyone to have the chance to discover Beethoven. You don't have to like it. But we want to show how exciting Beethoven was."
Their vision of a casual, playful approach to education hits the zeitgeist. And for once, classical music is not lagging behind current developments, but is right at the forefront. BEETHOVEN // OPUS 360" has just been awarded the German Computer Game Prize 2023 in the category "Best Innovation and Technology". Because the game "is produced at an outstanding level and lives from the creative texts, the acting performance of the protagonists and the target group-appropriate handling of the conveyed content", according to the jury's statement.
The concept of Arthur and Victor Abs also seems to work in reality: Enthusiastic pupils who have tried out the game on the European tour through schools, museums and concert halls rave about Beethoven. In the game, they are actively involved. Beethoven needs their help to win the battle.
"I didn't know much about Beethoven, actually nothing at all. Now I've learned everything about him!" one pupil says happily. Maybe not quite everything, but a start has been made: "I actually only listen to pop, rock, rap. And now also more classical music through it." This prospect would not be the worst, even for classical music beyond all virtual worlds.
Translated with DeepL.com
You can try out the game yourself before these concerts. More info
