Denmark - Copenhagen - Opera House
Dinamarca - Copenhague - Ópera
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ENGLISH:
The Copenhagen Opera House (in Danish usually called Operaen, literally The opera) is the national opera house of Denmark, and among the most modern opera houses in the world. It is also one of the most expensive opera houses ever built with construction costs well over US$500 million. It is located on the island of Holmen in central Copenhagen.
The Opera is located in Copenhagen just opposite the main castle Amalienborg at the shore of the harbour. The opera house is built in alignment with Amalienborg and The Marble Church, so that if one stands in the main entrance of the Opera, one can see the Marble Church over the water along the road through Amalienborg.
The specific part of the island where the Opera was built is named Dokøen, which means the Dock Island. Just a few meters west of the opera, one can still see an old dock and a pumping station.
The A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation donated the Opera House to the Danish state in August 2000 (A.P. Møller was a co-founder of the company now known as Mærsk). Some politicians were offended by the private donation, in part because the full cost of the project would be tax deductible, thus virtually forcing the government to buy the building; but the Folketing and the government accepted it in the autumn of 2000. Architect Henning Larsen and engineers Ramboll and Buro Happold and Theatre Consultant Theatreplan designed the facility. The acoustics were designed by Arup Acoustics and Speirs and Major Associates designed the architectural lighting. A.P. Møller had the final say in the design of the building, however, adding steel to the glass front, among other things. Construction began in June 2001 and was completed on October 1, 2004. It opened on January 15, 2005, in the presence of Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and Queen Margrethe II.
The tenor Plácido Domingo made a gala guest appearance as Sigmund in Wagner's Die Walküre on April 7, 2006, in a production by Kasper Bech Holten) and attended by The Queen.
The house is administered by the Royal Danish Theatre and is one of the best-equipped in the world. It has a main stage with five other stages directly connected, where large setups can be moved easily in and out.
The theatre can seat between 1492 and 1703, depending on the size of the orchestra. The 1492 seats are all individually angled in order to provide the best experience.
The orchestra pit is one of the largest in any opera house, with room for 110 musicians; the structure provides excellent sound quality for the orchestra. If the pit is filled, some musicians are located just below the front of the stage, which has become controversial among some members of the orchestra (according to tour guides in 2005), because this increases the sound levels, beyond those acceptable in Denmark. However, the overhang is very slight and the authorities have permitted this to happen.
During construction of the theatre, some acoustic tests were carried out with the fire curtain in place while technical work was carried out on stage, but great consideration was given to balance between pit and stage. If the orchestra is small or absent, the pit can be covered and additional seats can be added to the auditorium.
Just like the old Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, The Queen has her own box on the left side of the auditorium, closest to the stage. According to the tour guide, she decided that she preferred this arrangement rather than the more conventional central placement because she loves to be close to the stage to see the artists preparing in the wings before entering the stage.
The foyer has been designed for comfort, based on behavioural research on operagoers maximizing the wall area for standing against, while still providing views across the entire foyer and one of the best views on Copenhagen.
Guided tours cover most of the building, including both the auditorium and backstage areas.
***
ESPAÑOL:
La Ópera de Copenhague (en danés, Operahus København) (Ópera Real u Kongelige Teater) es el teatro nacional de ópera de Dinamarca, considerado uno de los teatros más modernos del mundo. Se encuentra también entre las óperas más costosas del planeta con un precio de construcción superior a los 500 millones de dólares. Cuenta con dos sedes, el moderno edificio inaugurado en 2005 y el Old Stage; antiguo teatro que ha quedado reservado para obras del barroco y conciertos.
La Fundación A.P. Møller y Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller donó el Teatro de la Ópera al Estado danés en agosto de 2000 (A.P. Møller fue cofundador de la compañía multinacional danesa Mærsk). En algunos sectores se sintieron ofendidos por la donación privada, en parte porque el costo total del proyecto sería deducible de los impuestos, obligando al gobierno a comprar el edificio. Pero el parlamento (Folketing) y el gobierno danés lo aceptaron en el otoño de 2000.
El arquitecto Henning Larsen y los ingenieros Ramboll y Buro Happold y el consultor teatral Theatreplan diseñaron la instalación. La acústica fue diseñada por Arup Acoustics y Speirs y Major Associates diseñaron la iluminación arquitectónica. A.P. Møller tuvo la última palabra en el diseño del edificio, sin embargo, añadiendo acero al frente de vidrio, entre otras cosas. La construcción comenzó en junio de 2001 y se completó el 1 de octubre de 2004.
Se inauguró el 15 de enero de 2005, en presencia de Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, el primer ministro danés Anders Fogh Rasmussen y la reina Margrethe II. El tenor Plácido Domingo hizo una presentación de gala como Sigmund en la ópera La valquiria de Wagner el 7 de abril de 2006, en una producción de Kasper Bech Holten y a la que asistió la reina.
El nuevo edificio diseñado por Henning Larsen a un coste de 340.000.000 de euros, es la sede principal de la Ópera Real Danesa, y se encuentra ubicado en una isla del puerto de la capital danesa, frente a la bahía de la ciudad justo frente al Palacio de Amalienborg (residencia de la familia real).
Consta de dos salas, la principal para 1500 espectadores y la de cámara para 200. El telón fue diseñado por Per Arnoldi y Per Kirkeby, mientras que las cuatro esculturas de bronce del vestíbulo adornadas con otras tres esculturas de luz son obra del artista danés-islandés Olafur Eliasson.
El mejor método de acceso es por ferry desde el puerto.
Denmark - Copenhagen - Opera House
Dinamarca - Copenhague - Ópera
***
ENGLISH:
The Copenhagen Opera House (in Danish usually called Operaen, literally The opera) is the national opera house of Denmark, and among the most modern opera houses in the world. It is also one of the most expensive opera houses ever built with construction costs well over US$500 million. It is located on the island of Holmen in central Copenhagen.
The Opera is located in Copenhagen just opposite the main castle Amalienborg at the shore of the harbour. The opera house is built in alignment with Amalienborg and The Marble Church, so that if one stands in the main entrance of the Opera, one can see the Marble Church over the water along the road through Amalienborg.
The specific part of the island where the Opera was built is named Dokøen, which means the Dock Island. Just a few meters west of the opera, one can still see an old dock and a pumping station.
The A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation donated the Opera House to the Danish state in August 2000 (A.P. Møller was a co-founder of the company now known as Mærsk). Some politicians were offended by the private donation, in part because the full cost of the project would be tax deductible, thus virtually forcing the government to buy the building; but the Folketing and the government accepted it in the autumn of 2000. Architect Henning Larsen and engineers Ramboll and Buro Happold and Theatre Consultant Theatreplan designed the facility. The acoustics were designed by Arup Acoustics and Speirs and Major Associates designed the architectural lighting. A.P. Møller had the final say in the design of the building, however, adding steel to the glass front, among other things. Construction began in June 2001 and was completed on October 1, 2004. It opened on January 15, 2005, in the presence of Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and Queen Margrethe II.
The tenor Plácido Domingo made a gala guest appearance as Sigmund in Wagner's Die Walküre on April 7, 2006, in a production by Kasper Bech Holten) and attended by The Queen.
The house is administered by the Royal Danish Theatre and is one of the best-equipped in the world. It has a main stage with five other stages directly connected, where large setups can be moved easily in and out.
The theatre can seat between 1492 and 1703, depending on the size of the orchestra. The 1492 seats are all individually angled in order to provide the best experience.
The orchestra pit is one of the largest in any opera house, with room for 110 musicians; the structure provides excellent sound quality for the orchestra. If the pit is filled, some musicians are located just below the front of the stage, which has become controversial among some members of the orchestra (according to tour guides in 2005), because this increases the sound levels, beyond those acceptable in Denmark. However, the overhang is very slight and the authorities have permitted this to happen.
During construction of the theatre, some acoustic tests were carried out with the fire curtain in place while technical work was carried out on stage, but great consideration was given to balance between pit and stage. If the orchestra is small or absent, the pit can be covered and additional seats can be added to the auditorium.
Just like the old Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, The Queen has her own box on the left side of the auditorium, closest to the stage. According to the tour guide, she decided that she preferred this arrangement rather than the more conventional central placement because she loves to be close to the stage to see the artists preparing in the wings before entering the stage.
The foyer has been designed for comfort, based on behavioural research on operagoers maximizing the wall area for standing against, while still providing views across the entire foyer and one of the best views on Copenhagen.
Guided tours cover most of the building, including both the auditorium and backstage areas.
***
ESPAÑOL:
La Ópera de Copenhague (en danés, Operahus København) (Ópera Real u Kongelige Teater) es el teatro nacional de ópera de Dinamarca, considerado uno de los teatros más modernos del mundo. Se encuentra también entre las óperas más costosas del planeta con un precio de construcción superior a los 500 millones de dólares. Cuenta con dos sedes, el moderno edificio inaugurado en 2005 y el Old Stage; antiguo teatro que ha quedado reservado para obras del barroco y conciertos.
La Fundación A.P. Møller y Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller donó el Teatro de la Ópera al Estado danés en agosto de 2000 (A.P. Møller fue cofundador de la compañía multinacional danesa Mærsk). En algunos sectores se sintieron ofendidos por la donación privada, en parte porque el costo total del proyecto sería deducible de los impuestos, obligando al gobierno a comprar el edificio. Pero el parlamento (Folketing) y el gobierno danés lo aceptaron en el otoño de 2000.
El arquitecto Henning Larsen y los ingenieros Ramboll y Buro Happold y el consultor teatral Theatreplan diseñaron la instalación. La acústica fue diseñada por Arup Acoustics y Speirs y Major Associates diseñaron la iluminación arquitectónica. A.P. Møller tuvo la última palabra en el diseño del edificio, sin embargo, añadiendo acero al frente de vidrio, entre otras cosas. La construcción comenzó en junio de 2001 y se completó el 1 de octubre de 2004.
Se inauguró el 15 de enero de 2005, en presencia de Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, el primer ministro danés Anders Fogh Rasmussen y la reina Margrethe II. El tenor Plácido Domingo hizo una presentación de gala como Sigmund en la ópera La valquiria de Wagner el 7 de abril de 2006, en una producción de Kasper Bech Holten y a la que asistió la reina.
El nuevo edificio diseñado por Henning Larsen a un coste de 340.000.000 de euros, es la sede principal de la Ópera Real Danesa, y se encuentra ubicado en una isla del puerto de la capital danesa, frente a la bahía de la ciudad justo frente al Palacio de Amalienborg (residencia de la familia real).
Consta de dos salas, la principal para 1500 espectadores y la de cámara para 200. El telón fue diseñado por Per Arnoldi y Per Kirkeby, mientras que las cuatro esculturas de bronce del vestíbulo adornadas con otras tres esculturas de luz son obra del artista danés-islandés Olafur Eliasson.
El mejor método de acceso es por ferry desde el puerto.