Copenhagen is undergoing
something of a cultural renaissance with a new Royal Opera
House being built at Dokøen, to be opened during
2005, and a new theatre planned for Nyhavn in 2007.
Det
Kongelige Teater (The Royal Theatre), Kongens Nytorv (telephone
number: 3369 6933 (information) or 6969 (box office), has been at
the heart of the city’s cultural life since the 18th century.
The old stage dates from 1874 and is situated on the site of a royal
theatre since 1748. The Royal Danish Theatre, Royal
Danish Opera and Royal Danish Ballet all
perform in its opulent circular auditorium, although the opera and
ballet will move to the new Royal Opera House at
Dokøen.
Tickets for almost all cultural events and performance in the city
are sold by BilletNet
(telephone number: 3848 1122) at post offices or online. Copenhagen
This Week and the Wonderful
Copenhagen tourist information website both provide information
on cultural events. The Copenhagen
Post is a weekly newspaper, costing Dkk15, which provides Danish
news in English, with information on current concerts, films and
shows.
Music
Despite the best efforts of numerous Danish composers, it is Danny
Kaye’s song, ‘Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen’
from the 1952 film, Hans Christian Andersen, that
buzzes maddeningly in people’s heads when they visit the city.
Founded during 1925, the Danish
National Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest radio symphony
orchestras in the world. Closely affiliated to the Symphony Orchestra
is the Danish National
Choir, founded in 1932. They both perform at the DR Concert
Hall, Julius Thomsens Gade, Frederiksberg (telephone number: 3520
3040).
The Royal Danish
Opera perform at Det Kongelige Teater (The Royal Theatre; see
above). The Royal
Danish Orchestra traces its ancestry to the Royal Trumpet Corps
of 1458 and, as such, it is the oldest orchestra in the world. They
perform at the Tivoli
Koncertsalen, Vesterbrogade 3 (telephone number: 3315 1012).
This is the city’s largest classical music venue, with seating
for approximately 1,900 people. The hall was decorated by leading
Danish artists and stages over 100 concerts, operas and ballets
throughout the season, which runs from April to September. There
are also daily recitals and concerts in the winter garden at the
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.
Theatre
Det Kongelige Teater has 3 stages: the Gamle
Scene (Old Stage) at Kongens Nytorv, the Stærekassen (New
Stage) at Tordenskjoldsgade 5, and the Turbinehallerne (Turbine
Halls), Adelgade 10, in a former power station. Between them, they
host classic and contemporary drama, dance and opera performances.
Another major venue is Det
Ny Teater (The New Theatre), Gammel Kongevej 29 (telephone number:
3325 5075, fax number: 3321 2034). The Pantomime Theatre
in Tivoli stages a pantomime daily April to July, usually revolving
around the strange relationship between Pierrot and Harlequin.
Dance
The
Royal Ballet performs at Det Kongelige Teater (see above). Founded
at the end of the 18th century, under the Italian choreographer,
Galeotti, the company achieved its heyday in the
19th century under August Bournonville. The main
venue for contemporary dance is Dansescenen,
Øster Fælled Torv 34 (telephone number: 3543 8300,
fax number: 3543 8110).
Film
Danish films are attracting worldwide interest. The director Lars
von Trier has achieved international acclaim for films
including The Kingdom (1994), Breaking
The Waves (1996) and The Idiots (1998).
Festen (1999), directed by the Danish
Thomas Vinterberg, was very successful.
The annual Copenhagen Night Film Festival (telephone
number: 3312 0005) features films from across the world. Cinema
is popular in the city and most films are shown in the original
language with Danish subtitles. Two of the main multiplexes showing
the latest blockbusters and action films are CinemaxX Fisketorvet,
Fisketorvet Shopping Center (telephone number: 7010 1202), and Imperial,
Ved Vesterport 4 (telephone number: 7013 1211).
Independent films, shorts and European classics are more the staple
repertoire of Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55 (telephone
number: 3374 3412), and Grand Teatret, Mikkel Bryggers
Gade 8 (telephone number: 3315 1611).
Cultural
events
The Copenhagen International Jazz Festival (telephone
number: 3393 2013; fax number: 3393 2024, e-mail: info@jazzfestival.dk
) is held for 10 days annually during July. The biggest event of
the festival is Giant Jazz, in the Circus building,
an extravaganza with some of the world’s top musicians.
Rock is covered in the June
Roskilde Festival (telephone number: 4636 6613; fax number:
4632 1499, e-mail: info@roskilde-festival.dk),
at Roskilde. Despite the tragedy in 2000, when fans of grunge band
Pearl Jam were crushed to death in the crowd, the Roskilde Festival
remains one of the most popular rock and pop festivals in Europe.
The biannual Golden
Days in Copenhagen Festival (telephone number: 3542 1432, fax
number: 3142 1491, e-mail: info@goldendays.dk,),
in September, includes exhibitions, concerts, ballet and drama celebrating
the Danish Golden Age (1800-50), spearheaded by the likes of Hans
Christian Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard.
The annual Kulturnatten
or Copenhagen Night of Culture (e-mail: kulturnatten@woco.dk)
is the night and usually in August, September or October, when locals
and visitors wearing a Culture Badge can attend
special events in the city’s museums, galleries, churches,
theatres, concert halls, bookshops and cafés.
Literary
notes
Needless to say, Hans Christian Andersen is Copenhagen’s
most famous literary son. His fairytales, which include the Little
Mermaid (1837) and the Ugly Duckling (1843),
are globally recognised.
More recently, Peter Høeg has achieved international
acclaim for his novel Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow
(1992), part of which is set in the city.
Karen
Blixen (1885-1962), the author of Out of Africa
(1938), lived a short distance from Copenhagen. Her home
at Rungsted Strandvej 111 is now a popular museum – the Karen
Blixen Museet (telephone number: 4557 1057, fax number: 4557
1058, e-mail: karen-blixen@dinesen.dk. |
