Germany's Beethovenfest Bonn Names New Head

Torger Nelson, who was previously managing director of the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, leaves his post in Wuppertal to lead the Beethovenfest

The Beethovenfest Bonn in Bonn, Germany, is dedicated mostly to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven in the place where he was born. The organization has announced that Torger Nelson will take over the management of the festival, with his initial contract extending until 2029.

Nelson, 45, is presently the managing director of the Wuppertaler Bühnen und Sinfonieorchester — and has only been in that position since the opening of the 2023/24 season.

Born in Düsseldorf, Nelson grew up between Frankfurt and Geneva, and studied business and musicology in Berlin and America. He began his career as a tour manager for various orchestras and choirs, before working his way up into finance roles at the Washington National Opera and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

In 2009, Nelson returned to Germany to become controller and interim administrative director at the Leipzig Gewandhaus, before taking on roles as commercial director of the Salzburg State Theater (2013-17) and as director of finances at Alte Oper Frankfurt (2017-18).

Between 2018 and 2023, Nelson returned to his hometown to serve as the managing director of the Tonhalle Düsseldorf.

"I am delighted to be taking on this exciting task in a young, dynamic team that has re-positioned the Beethovenfest in a new and innovative way in recent years," Nelson said.

"Torger Nelson has launched new cooperation with innovative management methods and introduced a modern pricing system," said Wuppertal cultural director Matthias Nocke. "He was also able to significantly advance digital administration in the areas of sales, human resources and finance. The latest mammoth task was to change the gastronomy in the in-house restaurant and opera house."