Copenhagen NightLife

Copenhagen NightLife information

Music

Classical music The premier cultural centre in Denmark is the Kongelige Teater (The Royal) which occupies three separate locations in Copenhagen. The Royal Danish Orchestra is located at The Royal's main auditorium - the Old Theatre - and offers classical music to an appreciative and mixed audience. Tel: +45 33-69-6969/ +45 70 15-6565 for ticket details. The massive Concert Hall in Tivoli (Tel: +45 33-15-1012) is home to the Tivoli Symphony Orchestra and often welcomes performers and companies from all around the world in a year-round programme of classical music revues and events. During park season (Apr-Sep - the Concert Hall has a separate out-of-season entrance) you can catch classical performances throughout the gardens, many of which are free. The open-air stage, the Plaenen, is the best-known venue. *The Concert Hall is currently closed for renovation and will re-open in November 2005. In the city you'll also find a plethora of smallish auditoriums, both modern and old that offer classical and chamber music performances. Check local listings when you visit, there is a year round programme of performances across the city. Modern music The live music scene in Denmark is very lively, and very varied. To find the latest listings, consult The Gaffa, available at hotels and venues or the Neon Guiden, and have a wade through what's on from week to week. The Vega complex (listed below under nightclubs) often has live performances as do these smaller venues: Copenhagen Jazz House Niels Hemmingsens Gade 10 The jazz scene in Copenhagen is pretty active - a welcome change for some visitors. This is one of the best venues in the city centre with the gigs starting at 21h30 weekends, 20h30 during the week. When there are no jazz concerts on, this is a good place to go dancing. Pumpehuset Studiestræde 52 Tel: +45 33-93-1960 This is possibly Copenhagen's best rock and pop venue with events about once a week or so. Listings in the local press. Mojo Blues Bar Løngangsstræde 21c Tel: +45 33-11-6453 The programme here starts at about 21h30 most nights, in this laid back blues venue (though it arguably lacks that funk-factor), with blues performers from all over Europe. Loppen Bådsmandsstræde 43, Christiania Tel: +45 32-57-8422 Anything goes here - musically. Loppen is in the "Free State" of Christiania, and many bands perform here for just that fee. The result is an eclectic mix of all types of music.

Theatre

Besides the Old Theatre (see Classical music above) the Kongelige Teater (Royal Theatre) offers two venues in the city that host a full and varied programme of classical and contemporary drama and stage performances. The elder is the Stærekassen (Tordenskjoldsgade 5), which offers an excellent programme of contemporary Danish and classical international theatre. The Kongelige's third auditorium, the Turbinehallerne (Adelgade 10), is the most modern and progressive of the triumvirate. The innovative venue occupies the former turbine hall of Copenhagen's old power station. A variety of performance art is shown here but stage plays remain the cornerstone of its programme. Expect more avant-garde and modern drama here. Telephone the Kongelige box office for details of both these venues. Tel: +45 33-69-6969. Det Ny Teater (The New Theatre) at Gammel Kongevej 29 is one of Copenhagen's main dramatic venues, a massive gilded auditorium that hosts international musicals as well as large scale theatrical productions. Tel: +45 33-25-5075. Besides other attractions the Tivoli contains the impressive Glassalen (the Glass Room) where the Review Theatre is located. There is also a Pantomime Theatre, although take note it is more European than English pantomime. Younger children might be more entranced by the Poppy Theatre, which offers puppet shows and the like. If you're seeking English language theatre then Copenhagen boasts one of continental Europe's most active English-language theatre companies, in the London Toast Theatre. With a repertoire of pantomime, comedy and sometimes more serious stuff the company has been entertaining tourists and locals for years. Call to see if they're actually in Copenhagen at the same time as you as they may well be touring. Various venues. Tel: +45 33-22-8686.

Opera

Opera enjoys a much wider popularity in Copenhagen than it seems to in the majority of the rest of Europe. The Gamle Scene (Old Stage) of the Kongelige Teater in Kongens Nytorv is the home of the Royal Danish Opera as well as the highly esteemed Royal Danish Ballet. A full range of performances from both companies is offered in season. The most popular and best known operatic works are always over-subscribed and you are advised to book well in advance. Tel: +45 33-69-6969 for tickets.

Nightclubs

Copenhagen enjoys an eclectic nightlife scene that veers across the range from generic nightclubs playing saccharine Europop to distinctly modern chill-out bars where looking good and being seen is as important as having a good time. The biggest night out in the city is Ideal, which occupies the massive Vega venue (Enghavevej 40. Tel: +45 33-25-7011) on weekends. Also located here is the chilled out Vega Lounge - a refined bar with a smallish dancefloor serving cocktails to a more laid-back clientele than you find in the main club. Vega also hosts regular live music gigs. Ever popular Rust in Nørrebro (at Guldbergsgade 8), epitomises the overall atmosphere of the city. Completely laid back and pressure free the emphasis here is purely on having a good time, and the dancefloor always contains a mix of people. Head to Boltens Gaard for some of the most exclusive clubs in the city. DNA is a polished multi-functional club with a cocktail bar and lounge as well as an intimate dancefloor. Next door is NASA, a members only club that you may struggle to get into. VIPs and the well heeled dance the night away here. You'll have more chance of getting in one or the other of Slide and Fever, which together complete the Boltens Gaard club set. Slide offers predominantly house music, Fever spins hip-hop.

Cinema

Danish Cinema has never enjoyed mainstream international popularity, but the appreciation of the arts that the Danes possess easily encompasses the silver screen as well as the stage. Hence in Copenhagen you'll find plenty of small arthouse cinemas as well as the international multiplexes you find elsewhere. One of each is listed below: Imperial Ved Vesterport 4 Tel: +45-70-13-1211 This is the biggest cinema in Denmark, the most expensive, the busiest, the most American and popular. Films are shown in the original language (usually English) with Danish subtitles. DKK75 and up. Biografen Gloria Rådhuspladsen 59 Tel: +45 33-12-4292 With a great central location, this cinema has developed a reputation for showing the best in independent and art films, from Europe, the US and around the world. Small and funky. Reasonable priced at DKK60-70. Film lovers should also look out for the Danish National Film Festival - every cinema in Copenhagen participates as 40,000 people descend on the city to see the best in new Danish and international cinema.

Special Events

Copenhagen always has a full programme of events, including many one-off celebrations. Copenhageners love of the outdoors is reflected in the fact that the majority of festivals are held during the summertime. Here is just a selection of the regular celebrations that Copenhagen holds throughout the year: April The National Film Festival of Denmark is a fantastic affair as over 40,000 visitors come to watch the latest in Danish and international cinema. Every cinema in Copenhagen is taken over with the event. More than 150 films from innovative film-makers will be shown. On April 16 Copenhagers and Danes from all over the country descend on Amalienborg Square to celebrate the Birthday of Queen Margrethe II. The Queen comes on to her balcony to address her well wishers who throng in the square below. In mid to late April the Tivoli Gardens opens for its summer season. The opening is always a grand occasion and will kick off noisily with the Fredags Rock (Friday Rock) concert at 22h00. There will also be fireworks displays and performers around the garden. May Although not strictly speaking a solely Copenhagen event, Denmark's marathon is unique in that it crosses an international border. Beginning near the capital at Kastrup the runners run through the 4km long Oresund tunnel, before emerging on the artificial island of Peberholmen, and continuing over the spectacular roadbridge to Sweden. The runners' goal lies 5km into Sweden at Ribersborg. The Copenhagen Fashion and Design Festival is held in late May and is a fabulous opportunity for the fashion conscious to see the latest designs from all over Europe as well as from Denmark's own designers. Nikolaj Church is the centre for the main shows but many larger department stores and malls hold their own smaller events. June Midsummer Night's Eve is a great time to be anywhere in Denmark as the country celebrates with bonfires and fireworks, especially on the coasts. In Copenhagen, head for Amalienborg Castle, the harbour around the little Mermaid or any of the parks and lakes in the interior of the city. July Over ten days in early July Copenhagen holds its annual Jazz festival. Jazz fans and performers from all over the world come to the city to listen and play jazz tunes in various venues across the city. Tel: +45 33-93-2013, for further details. August Every August over 5,000 gays and lesbians take part in Denmark's largest Gay and lesbian event, Mermaid Pride Copenhagen. The colourful parade starts at approximately 13h00 and celebrations continue into the night for the Pride Party in Tivoli Gardens, where there are live bands, ballroom dancing and a firework display. August/ September Every two years Copenhagen remembers its Golden Age in the Golden Days in Copenhagen festival. Celebrating the period between 1800 and 1900 when the arts and sciences flourished in the city, Copenhagen holds exhibitions, concerts, lectures and recitals of dance and literature in order to increase awareness of the capital's history. September In the third week of September blues fans from all over Europe will be found in Copenhagen, enjoying performances from Denmark's and the world's finest blues musicians as part of the Copenhagen Blues Music Festival. Various venues throughout the city host events. Also held in September is Kulturbro (culture-bridge), a biennial celebration of art and culture in the Øresund region around either end of the vast tunnel and bridge linking Copenhagen with Malmo in Sweden. November/ December In mid-November the Tivoli Gardens opens for the winter season. In many ways this is when the Gardens are at their most beautiful with the trees and open spaces festooned with Christmas decorations. A vast Christmas market and attractions such as Santa's workshop keep old and young in seasonal spirit.