Music, Film & Ballet

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The composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) is becoming increasingly popular in concert halls all over the world. So is the recently discovered Rued Langgaard (1893- 1952).
 
In the world of jazz, the violinist Svend Asmussen, b.1916, belongs to the world elite and the double bass player Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (1946-2005) was in great demand internationally. The pianist Victor Borge (1909-2000) was a much-loved entertainer all over the world. His philosophy of life was that a smile reduces the distance between people.

Danish cinema had a golden age during the silent film period, among others with Carl Th. Dreyer’s (1889-1968) film about the passion and death of Joan of Arc.

In this new millennium, the spotlight is again sweeping over Danish cinema, with several directors winning Oscars and Golden Palms, including Bille August, b.1948, and a new generation of directors headed by Lars von Trier, b.1956, charging ahead with their so-called Dogme films.

Danish actors are receiving offers from Hollywood. Iben Hjejle, b.1971, appeared in “High Fidelity” and “Dreaming of Julia”. Viggo Mortensen, b.1958, among other things played Aragon in “Lord of the Rings”, and Mads Mikkelsen, b.1965, is the villain in the James Bond film “Casino Royale”.

Another Danish strength is television drama series. They have won Denmark Emmy Awards for series such as “Nikolaj og Julie” (“Nikolaj and Julie”), “Rejseholdet” (“The Flying Squad”), “Ørnen” (“The Eagle”) and “Unge Andersen” (“Young Andersen”).

Danish humour flourishes in film series such as “Olsen Banden” (“The Olsen Gang”) and television series such as “Matador” (“Magnate”), which has many viewers also outside Denmark as do many Danish films for children. Within ballet, August Bournonville (1805-1879) as ballet master at The Royal Theatre raised Danish ballet to an international standing that has not faded.

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