Operaen - The Opera House - Copenhagen

Copenhagen’s and Denmark’s new international Opera House is one of the most modern
of its type and one of the best-equipped opera buildings in the world.

Video from the inauguration gala in 2005 with fabulous ballet dancers Silja Schandorff and Nikolaj Hübbe from the Royal Danish Ballet Corps with a choreographed version of Jacob Gade’s famous Tango Jalousie by Peter Martins.

Video

The Opera House can seat between 1490 and 1700 guests depending of the stage setup and size of orchestra to obtain the optimal performance. The orchestra pit provides room for 110 musicians from The Royal Danish Orchestra and the opera building offers an outstanding acoustic sound excellence and experience for the entire audience. The new Opera House is a unique arts venue for opera lovers, and offers opera fans and opera goers the very best performing facilities from both worlds.

Inside view of the main stage and seating, with the orchestra pit in front of stage for 110 musicians from The Royal Danish Orchestra. © The Royal Danish Theatre - Photo Lars Schmidt.

The three act opera Maskarade by Carl Nielsen in a beautiful set up at the Opera House. Performed first time at the Royal Theater in 1906. © The Royal Danish Theatre - Photo Mari i Dali.

Ingenious facilities
The Opera has 6 main stages – one main stage with five other stages directly connected, where large productions and setups can be changed with various decorations and easily moved around when needed - and 14 floors with 5 floors below ground surface. The Opera building is totally 41,000 m2 and has more than 1000 rooms including a sound proof rehearsal auditorium for the orchestra.

Stage production of Puccini's last opera Turandot with some of opera's best-known arias at the Copenhagen Opera House. © The Royal Danish Theatre - Photo Martin Mydtskov Rønne.

Richard Wagner's monumental family saga - Der Ring des Nibelungen performed at the Copenhagen Opera House. © The Royal Danish Theatre – Photo Martin Mydtskov Rønne.

The Design and construction
The Opera building was designed by the internationally known architect Henning Larsen and engineers Ramboll and Buro Happold in cooperation with Ship owner and Senior Partner Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller - who donated the Opera House to the Danish state via A. P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller's Foundation in August 2000. Construction of the opera building began in June 2001 and was completed January 15, 2005. Inauguration took place in the presence of Queen Margrethe 2. - Ship owner Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller - Architect Henning Larsen and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The stylish foyer with three very amazing chandeliers specially designed for the Opera House. The walls of the auditorium is pure maple wood.

The Opera House - is a new landmark for Copenhagen and an architectural pearl that illuminates the entire harbour area.

24 carat gold leafs
The ceiling inside the auditorium is covered by 105,000 24 carat gold leafs and the balconies and walls are fully clad with shining maple wood.The foyer floor is set with Perlatino marble from Sicily and three remarkable lamps decorate the central part of the foyer. The Queen has her own balcony on the left side of the auditorium, closest to the stage, similar to one at the old royal theatre in Copenhagen. The Opera House is equipped with restaurants, cafés and bars offering special theatre menus.

The imposing class surface with its metal grid and upper deck of the Opera House, facing the head office of the A. P. Møller – Mærsk Group, who donated the Opera House to the Danish state through the A. P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation.

The Opera House is placed opposite Amalienborg Palace, which finally ends the former Frederiksstad axis from 1748. The axis formed the mid point and position of the many fashionable buildings and royal mansions in and around the Frederiksstad quarters. Photo - John P. Palmer.

Location
The Opera House is located right up to the waterfront on the island of Holmen - specifically called the Dock Island - just opposite Amalienborg Palace – Amalie Garden Marble Church and the Royal Playhouse. The Opera building is accessible by car or bus and can also be reachable by the small yellow harbour ferryboats by just buying a normal bus ticket.
Take a guided tour of the Opera for more information.

The Opera Address: The Opera Ekvipagemestervej 10 1438 Copenhagen K. -Bus - Bus No. 66 stops right next to the opera house. -Metro - The nearest Metro station is Christianshavns Torv from where you can catch bus No. 66 or walk one kilometre to the opera house. -Opera bus - A special bus service is available from the opera house following all performances at the Main Stage. -Harbour bus - The harbour busses, or boats, sail directly to the Opera House - there is a boarding platform close to Hotel Nyhavn 71. -Water Taxi -Copenhagen Water Taxi sails to and from the Opera House

The Opera - Copenhagen

The Royal Danish Playhouse Address Skuespilhuset Sankt Annæ Plads 36 1250 København K Busses: 29 - 65E Water Taxi - Copenhagen Water Taxi sails to and from the Royal Playhouse Distance from Town Hall Square 5 km. and expect 20-30 min. by walk.

The Royal Danish Playhouse at the waterfront of the city harbour - is situated opposite the Opera.