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Culture
Det Kongelige Teater (The Royal Theatre), Kongens Nytorv (tel: (33) 696 969 or (70) 156 565; website: www.kgl-teater.dk), has been at the heart of the city’s cultural life since the 18th century. The old stage dates from 1874 and is located on the site of a royal theatre since 1748. The Danish royal opera, theatre and ballet companies all perform in its opulent circular auditorium.
Tickets for almost all cultural events and performance in the city are sold by Billetnet (tel: (38) 481 122; website: www.billetnet.dk) at post offices or online. Copenhagen This Week (website: www.ctw.dk) and the Wonderful Copenhangen Tourist Information’s online facilities (website: www.visitcopenhagen.dk) both provide information on cultural events. The Copenhagen Post (website: www.cphpost.dk) is a weekly newspaper, which costs Dkk15 and 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.
The Royal Orchestra traces its ancestry to the Royal Trumpet Corps of 1458 and, as such, it is the oldest orchestra in the world. The Tivoli Konsert Salen (Tivoli Concert Hall), Vesterbrogade 3 (tel: (33) 151 012), is the city’s largest classical music venue, with seating for approximately 1900 people. The hall was decorated by leading Danish artists and stages over 100 concerts, operas and ballets throughout the season (April to September).
There are daily recitals and concerts in the winter garden at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (see Key Attractions).
Theatre: In addition to the old stage on Kongens Nytorv, Det Kongelige Teater (see above) has two other venues. Stærekassen, Tordenskjoldsgade 5, was built in 1931, with a capacity of 775. The theatre hosts contemporary drama, opera and dance performances. The Turbinehallerne, Adelgade 10, is a former power station and provides a unique, atmospheric and flexible venue for contemporary theatre.
Another major venue is Det Ny Teater (The New Theatre), Gammel Kongevej 29 (tel: (33) 255 075; fax: (33) 212 034). The Pantomime Theatre (1874), in Tivoli, stages a classic pantomime of Pierrot and Harlequin twice a day during the summer.
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 (tel: (35) 435 858; fax: (35) 438 110).
Film: Danish films are now attracting worldwide interest. The director, Lars von Trier, has achieved international acclaim for films such as The Kingdom (1994), Breaking The Waves (1996) and The Idiots (1998). Festen (1999), directed by Thomas Vinterberg, was a huge success.
The annual Copenhagen Night Film Festival (tel: (33) 120 005) features films from across the world. Cinema is very 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 actions films are CinemaxX Fisketorvet, Fisketorvet Shopping Center (tel: (70) 101 202), and Imperial, Ved Vesterport 4 (tel: (70) 131 211). Independent films, shorts and European classics are more the staple repertoire of Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55 (tel: (33) 743 412), and Grand Teatret, Mikkel Bryggers Gade 8 (tel: (33) 151 611).
Cultural events: The Copenhagen International Jazz Festival (tel: (33) 932 013; fax: (33) 932 024; e-mail: info@jazzfestival.dk; website: www.jazzfestival.dk) is held for ten days annually in July. The biggest event 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 (tel: (46) 366 613; fax: (46) 321 499; e-mail: bigbox@roskilde-festival.dk; website: www.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 Roskile Festival remains one of the most important and popular rock and pop festivals in Europe.
The biannual Golden Days in Copenhagen Festival (tel: (35) 421 432; fax: (31) 421 491; e-mail: info@goldendays.dk; website: www.goldendays.dk), in September, includes exhibitions, concerts, ballet and drama celebrating the Danish Golden Age (1800-1850), 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 (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, such as 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 – the author of Out of Africa (1938) – lived a short distance from Copenhagen. Her home at Runsted Stransvej 111 is now a popular museum – the Karen Blixen Museet (tel: (45) 571 057; fax: (45) 571 058; e-mail: karen-blixen@dinesen.dk; website: www.karen-blixen.dk).
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General
