Beethoven on the streets of Bonn

"Beethoven is important because he gets into your heart, you feel it - the sound. Other classical composers can do that too, but Beethoven is special because we know him here in this town," says Claudia Heller.

Sönke Lenz, project director of the National Youth Orchestra of Germany, says "I love Beethoven's music and am often occupied with it. We play a lot of Beethoven and do so with great joy. I have an intense relationship to Beethoven, and can't separate the personal from the professional – also because he affects the way I spend my evenings, and we're often on tour with Beethoven's music."

"I first heard Beethoven when I was five or six years old," says John Kuo. "My parents played Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Now I really like the Ninth Symphony. It's such a powerful work. I came here to the Beethovenfest from Canada to experience more of his legendary pieces."

"Beethoven makes good music," says Luka. "I don't really have a favorite piece by Beethoven, and I don't play his music either, but I like his music in general."

"There are some composers who have laid the foundations for the future, Beethoven is one of those," says Karl Bernhard.

"It was emotional and special atmosphere around here here because everyone was quiet and listening very carefully," says Jana Wuschke (left) of Beethovenfest's opening night. "It was something special to be able to listen to such great musicians I think."

"I love Beethoven above everything else," says Mechtild Scholz, "all of the symphonies – especially the Ninth because there is singing in it – and all of the piano concertos. I'm not such a big fan of the chamber music though. Music is very important to me, and Beethoven in particular because he was born here in Bonn."

"With Beethoven, the symphony you just heard is probably going to be your favorite one," says DW's general director Peter Limbourg. "But sometimes it depends on the mood. If I have a hard job ahead, I'll listen to the 'Eroica'. If I'm more relaxed and contemplative, it's the 'Pastoral'. I recently discovered his wonderful Triple Concerto - and have time to delve into his other works."

"It is wonderful, lively, exciting music," says Astrid Sieber. "I think there are lots of people here who like all of the different music styles we've heard in the town today."