Cph Opera Festival
July 26-Aug 2; various locations; tickets from billetten.dk, some events are free adm; operafestival.dk
Timing is everything in opera, but unfortunately for the good folk of Copenhagen, theirs couldn’t be any worse. Year after year, they leave the capital for their summer hols, missing out on their very own opera festival.
It is mainly left to tourists, therefore, to enjoy an occasion that makes the streets resonate to the captivating drama and melodic masterpieces of the genre. The festival is good-humoured and infectious, and it makes any visit unforgettable.
World-class artists converge on the city’s streets, canals, churches, halls and homes to bring everyday life a tantalising taste of opera. The festival not only appeals to opera aficionados, but seeks to awaken the curiosity of those yet to fall in love with the genre.
You can experience opera on a bicycle, on a boat, and at a number of diverse venues including the Workers’ Museum, Rosenborg Palace, Israels Plads and the ‘Atom basement’ under the old hospital. There are also events especially staged for kids and opera cruises (book tickets at stromma.dk).
Among the highlights are three performances of Carl Nielsen’s Maskarade by Det Kongelige Teater (July 31-Aug 2, 16:00; Lindegården); the Wagner soloists (Aug 1, 19:30; Israels Plads);
an afternoon of Puccini (includes his epic aria ‘O mio babbino caro’) and Ravel courtesy of Værløse’s Musikteatret Undergrunden (July 29, 15:00; Torvehallerne); and CEF Weyse’s musical adaptation of JL Heiberg quintessentially Danish work ‘Et Eventyr i Rosenborg Have’ (July 26-27, 17:00; Torvehallerne).
