Copenhagen and another opera house!

Last Saturday, we travelled 350 kilometres from Hamburg to Copenhagen using a vehicular ferry to cross from Germany to Denmark.  The alternative route (light blue line) would have taken me past Aabenraa, the town of my 2nd great grandfather Peter Benson Lutge, which I visited last July.

The biggest drawcard in Copenhagen this visit was attending a performance at the Opera House which was closed for the summer break last year.  (The link to last year's blog is here.). We're staying at the Admiral Hotel - a former warehouse and granary dating from 1787 which was converted in 1978 and refurbished in 2004.  All our rooms have a view across to the Opera House!

Admiral Hotel Copenhagen

View to the Opera House from my room when I arrived

The view at 22.30 on Saturday

What a contrast to Hamburg...I'm mesmerised by the view, wood and custom built furniture!

Details of joinery in the restaurant

Flowers and huge pieces of ancient furniture are the main decorative features

Copenhagen Marathon on Sunday saw the city stop between 10.00 and 15.00.  Outside the hotel, I was searching for Ann and John!

The Opera House was donated to the Danish state by the foundation of a local industrialists and completed in 2006.  The sting for the govenment was that the donation was tax deductible - all $M500US!

Our third Puccini opera, Tosca, sung in Italian and subtitles in Danish but no problems as I know the story well.  

Another enjoyable production with excellent singers who you can read about here.  The downside being Scarpia (David Kempster) who couldn't sing and, rather that being replaced, was dubbed by a singer from the pit.  It detracted from the performance for me.

The theatre is behind the maple wood at the back of the foyer.  It's referred to as the pumpkin because of its shape and colour.  The balcony faces are maple of the same colour and designed to maximise the acoustics.

Fabulous views of the city from the upper balconies.  Here's the Amalienborg, home to the Royal family, and Marble Church 

The old Opera House is still used for ballet and other productions

Royal Danish Playhouse

The Royal family are very much part of Copenhagen.  Their four city palaces are built around a square about 5 minutes walk from the hotel.

"Our Mary's" at home....and some other photos with a royal theme

Interesting variety of statues and sculptures on the waterfront - we did see The Little Mermaid

Old courtyards are now being converted for dining and shopping revealing old Copenhagen

Iconic photos of the Nyhavn Canal