Copenhagen is undergoing something of a cultural renaissance, with the new Royal Opera House (website:
www.operaen.dk) opened in January 2005, on Holmen, just across the water from the royal palace of Amalienborg, and a new theater,
Skuespilhuset (website:
www.skuespilhus.dk), opened on Kvæsthusbroen in February 2008.
Det Kongelige Teater (The Royal Theater), Kongens Nytorv (tel: 3369 6933 (information)
or 6969 (box office);
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 theater since 1748. The Royal Theater, with its opulent circular auditorium, has long been home to
The Royal Danish Theater,
Royal Danish Opera and
Royal Danish Ballet. The opera and ballet have now moved to the new Royal Opera House on Holmen, even though they are still involved in productions at the Royal Theater. Please note: call the Royal Theater for details of performances at the new Royal Opera House, and to book tickets.
Tickets for almost all cultural events and performance in the city are sold by
BilletNet (tel: 7015 6565; website:
www.billetnet.dk) at post offices or online.
Copenhagen This Week (website:
www.ctw.dk) and the
Wonderful Copenhagen tourist information website (
www.visitcopenhagen.com) both provide information on cultural events. The
Copenhagen Post (website:
www.cphpost.dk) is a weekly newspaper that 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 in 1925, the
Danish National Symphony Orchestra (website:
www.dr.dk/rso) 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 (website:
www.dr.dk/Orkestre/DR+Kor). They both perform at the
DR Concert Hall, Julius Thomsens Gade, Frederiksberg (tel: 3520 6262). From January 2009 they will perform in the new DR Concert Hall (website:
www.dr.dk/Koncerthuset/inenglish/koncerthuset.htm) which is under construction at Ørestaden. It is a spectacular building (45m/148ft high, 60m/107ft wide and 100m/328ft long) and was designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel.
The Royal Danish Opera performs both at the city’s new
Opera House, Ekvipagemestervej 10 (website:
www.operaen.dk), and at
Det Kongelige Teater (The Royal Theater; see above). The
Royal Danish Orchestra (Det Kongelige Kapel) traces its ancestry to the Royal Trumpet Corps of 1458 and, as such, it is the oldest orchestra in the world. They perform many of their concerts at the new Opera House and also at the
Tivoli Koncertsalen (Tivoli Concert Hall), Vesterbrogade 3 (tel: 3315 1012; website:
www.tivoli.dk), which 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 (April to September). There are also daily recitals and concerts in the winter garden at the
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (see
Key Attractions).
Theater: Det Kongelige Teater (see above) has three 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, opera and dance performances. The spectacular new
Skuespilhuset theater (website:
www.skuespilhus.dk) to be opened at Kvæsthusbroen in 2008 also belongs to The Royal Theater and will have three stages.
Another major venue is
Det Ny Teater (The New Theater), Gammel Kongevej 29 (tel: 3325 5075; website:
www.detnyteater.dk). The
Pantomime Theater 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 (tel: 3543 8300; website:
www.dansescenen.dk).
Film: Danish films are attracting worldwide interest. The director Lars von Trier has achieved international acclaim for films such as
The Kingdom (1994),
Breaking The Waves (1996),
The Idiots (1998),
Dancer in the Dark (2000) and
Dogville (2003).
Festen (1999), directed by the Danish Thomas Vinterberg, was also a huge success.
The annual
Night Film Festival (tel: 3312 0005; website:
www.natfilm.dk) 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 action films are
Cinemaxx Fisketorvet, Kalvebod Brygge 57 (tel: 7010 1202; website:
www.cinemaxx.dk), and
Imperial, Ved Vesterport 4 (tel: 7013 1211). Independent films, shorts and European classics are more the staple repertoire of
Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55 (tel: 3374 3412; website:
www.dfi.dk), and
Grand Teatret, Mikkel Bryggers Gade 8 (tel: 3315 1611; website:
www.grandteatret.dk).
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 recognized. 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 (tel: 4557 1057; website:
www.isak-dinesen.dk).
Sport:Denmark has an impressive history in many kinds of sports and has won many international prizes and medals over the years. Football and handball are the favorite team sports.
FC København (tel: 3543 3131; website:
www.fck.dk) is the local football team, playing at the national stadium,
Parken, Øster Allé 50 (tel: 3543 3131; website: www.parken.dk). However,
Brøndby IF, from the residential suburb Brøndby in the western part of greater Copenhagen, has been more successful internationally. They are both among the country’s foremost clubs, and the local derby matches between them draw big crowds. Brøndby plays at Brøndby Stadion (tel: 4363 0810).
Tickets for sporting events are advertised in the Copenhagen papers. They can be bought direct from the venues or from BilletNet (tel: 7015 6565; website:
www.billetnet.dk).
Badminton: Courts are available for hire at Dkk55 per hour (rackets an extra Dkk25), at
Grøndal Centert, Hyidkildevej 64 (tel: 3834 1109).
Fitness Centers: S.
A.
T.
S.
Parken, Øster Allé 42 (tel: 3555 0078; website:
www.sats.com), charge Dkk150 for one training session, as do the other S.A.T.S. outlets:
Scala, Vesterbrogade 2E (tel: 3332 1002),
Falconer Hotel, Falkoner Allé 9 (tel: 3810 9070),
Amager, Englandsvej 28-30 (tel: 3259 1310) and
Nørrebro, Bragesgade 8 (tel: 3581 2781).
Golf: The Copenhagen region is a paradise for golfers, with 86 golf courses. The greater Copenhagen area alone has 35 courses, ranging from 9 holes over 18 holes to 27 holes. Enthusiasts can practice their swings for Dkk120 per hour at the pay-and-play
Copenhagen Indoor Golf Center, Refshalevej 177B, Store Stålhal (tel: 3266 1100; e-mail:
info@cigc.dk; website:
www.cigc.dk). Facilities include an 800m (2,624ft) put-and-chip course, 60 driving ranges, a shop and a café. Pay and play at around Dkk150-200 is also available at a number of centers including
Nivå Golf Pay and Play, Løvbjerggardsvej 1, Kokkedal (tel: 4914 8888; website:
www.nivaa-golfklub.dk),
Smørum Golfcenter, Skebjergvej (tel: 4497 0111; website:
www.smorumgolfcenter.dk) and
Havreholm Slot, Klosterrisvej 4 (tel: 4975 8600; website:
www.havreholm.dk).
Sailing: It is possible to hire boats from the
Danish Boating Industry Association (tel: 7022 8150; fax: 7022 8155; e-mail:
info@danboat.com; website:
www.danboat.com).
Squash: Nørrebrohallen, Bragesgade 5 (tel: 3583 1001; website:
www.noerrebrohallen.dk) provides squash courts for Dkk80 per hour. It is also possible to book squash courts at
Svanemøllehallen, Østerbrogade 240 (tel: 3920 7701), but they must be booked one week in advance, and the price is Dkk70 per hour.
Swimming: Public pools include
Frederiksberg Swimming Baths, Helgesvej 29 (tel: 3814 0404),
Vesterbro Swimming Baths, Angelgade 4 (tel: 3122 0500) and
Øbro-
Hallen, Gunnar Nu Hansens Plads 3 (tel: 3525 7060). Good beaches near the city include
Bellevue and
Charlottenlund to the north and
Amager Beach and the
Beach Park to the south. There is an open-air pool in
Fælledparken, Borgmester Jensens Allé 50 (tel: 3539 0804).
Tennis: Booking in advance is necessary at all venues. Indoor and outdoor courts are available for hire for at Dkk130-150 per hour at
B93, Svanemølleanlægget, Ved Sporsløjfen 10 (tel: 39 27 18 90).
Hotel Mercur, Vester Farimagsgade 17 (tel: 3312 5711), allows non-residents to use its outdoor courts for Dkk130 per hour.
Københavns Boldklub, at Pile Allé 14 (tel: 3630 2300) and Peter Bangsvej 147 (tel: 3871 4150), charges Dkk120-175 per hour, with an additional Dkk100 per person fee for non-members.
Windsurfing: Nautic Surf and Ski, Amager beach (tel: 3284 8300), is open all year round.
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