Beethoven’s Life In Music And Graphics From Deutsche Grammophon And Z2 Comics

Z2 Comics and Deutsche Grammophon will release a new original graphic novel on the life of Ludwig van Beethoven in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of his birth. Due for release in November 2020, Beethoven: The Graphic Novel  will be accompanied by a new compilation album from Deutsche Grammophon, mirroring the story through the composer’s own works.

A towering figure in the history of music, Beethoven’s ground-breaking works continue to thrill audiences today – not only in concert halls, where he is the most performed composer (over 13% of all classical concerts worldwide in 2019 featured a work by Beethoven), but also on digital platforms where he has millions of monthly listeners. Beyond his prolific output, he faced many struggles in his personal life, with tumultuous relationships and loss of hearing affecting him profoundly.

Beethoven has also influenced pop-culture and his music has witnessed and inspired some of the most historic moments of the last quarter of a millennium, featuring in over 1500 films and TV shows including A Clockwork Orange, Die Hard, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, The Breakfast Club, Dead Poet’s Society, Django Unchained, Disney’s Fantasia, The King’s Speech, Columbo, Sherlock, The Handmaid’s Tale and The Simpsons; it’s been sampled by Alicia Keys, Nas, Ennio Morricone, Giorgio Moroder, ELO, Kiss, Busta Rhymes and the Beatles; it’s been sent into orbit on the Voyager spacecraft; it’s influenced literary works like TS Eliot’s Four Quartets and the comic strip Peanuts even featured a Beethoven storyline! Beethoven’s legacy has also been recognized in the cosmos, with an asteroid belt  and a crater named after him on the planet Mercury.

Narrated across 144 pages, the graphic novel follows the life of Beethoven through striking new visuals, created by world-class artists including a gorgeous new painted book cover by David Mack.

Beethoven: The Graphic Novel will be released in fine bookstores and comic shops in November, and is available to order now directly from Z2 Comics webstore: www.z2comics.com/beethoven

Meanwhile, listeners can enjoy a full collection of the composer’s works with Beethoven – The New Complete Edition, a comprehensive 123-disc box set and digital series featuring over 250 artists and 175 hours of music, created in partnership with the Beethoven-Haus Bonn.