Carl Nielsen Festival: Denmark’s first International Orchestra Festival

The Carl Nielsen Festival will be held for the first time on the picturesque island of Funen from August 26 to 30 presenting an impressive line-up of top international orchestras. The Artistic Director is renowned violinist and conductor, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider.

 

With its endless beaches, the Danish island of Funen is a famous holiday paradise, yet it also has much to offer culturally. Both the author Hans-Christian Andersen and composer Carl Nielsen originated from Funen. The latter will be honored with a special musical tribute in the form of the newly founded Carl Nielsen Festival, which launches in the summer of 2022: Denmark’s first International Orchestra Festival will be an annual celebration in the harbour city of Odense, complementing symphonic concerts performed by the world’s leading orchestras with chamber music and supporting events.

In its very first year, the Carl Nielsen Festival has assembled an impressive line-up of top-class, international musicians. Klaus Mäkelä, Oslo Philharmonic and Isabelle Faust will open the Festival on August 26; additional highlights of the Festival weekend include concerts with the WDR Sinfonieorchester, Cristian Măcelaru, Gautier Capuçon, Daniil Trifonov, and the Danish String Quartet. For the crowning finale, Tugan Sokhiev an the Philharmonia Orchestra will perform in Odense on August 30.
Acknowledging that awareness of the cultural-historical significance of Carl Nielsen’s music is long overdue Festival Director, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, says:

„Carl Nielsen is the most important composer Denmark has ever produced - a true figurehead for Danish musical culture. Dedicating a special event to him and highlighting his extraordinary achievements in this way seemed as logical as it was overdue to me and the H.C. Andersen Festival team.“

The Carl Nielsen Festival pays homage to its namesake in a variety of ways. All symphonic concerts open with an overture by Nielsen and his chamber music is explored through a programme of intimate concerts in the charming ambience of local historic manor houses. The fact that the composer was also rooted in folk music does not go unnoticed: In the pub Anarkist, musicians and festival guests are invited each evening to enjoy traditional Danish music in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Carl Nielsen Festival takes place in the context of one of Denmark’s largest cultural events: the H.C. Andersen Festival, which pays tribute to Funen’s other great cultural pioneer, Hans-Christian Andersen, filling the picturesque alleys of Odense with color and life. Its events include the Odense Flower Festival, HCA Comedy Festival and Spoken Word Festival, all of which attract a large audience every year.

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider looks forward to welcoming guests from both far and wide, enriching the cultural landscape of Funen and enabling international orchestras to meet on Danish soil.

„We want to celebrate the legacy of Carl Nielsen as well as the unique lifestyle on Funen. I look forward to this with great anticipation.“

Find more information on the official festival website

 

Program
26  August – 30 August 

 

26 August

7.30 pm  – Odense Concert Hall
Oslo Philharmonic / Mäkelä / Faust

10.30 pm – Anarchist
Dreamers’ Circus (Nordic Folk Music feature Carl Nielsen)

 

27 August 

11 am – Lundsgaard Gods
Znaider / Capuçon / Trio Con Brio / Danish String Quartet

3 pm – Hvidkilde Gods
Danish String Quartet

7.30 pm – Odense Concert Hall
WDR Sinfonieorchester / Măcelaru / Znaider / Capuçon

10.30 pm – Anarchist
Dreamers’ Circus (Nordic Folk Music feature Carl Nielsen)

 

28 August

11 am – Bramstrup Gods
Trifonov / Trio Con Brio / Danish String Quartet

3 pm – Kongens Have, Open-Air ‚prom‘
Odense Symphony Orchestra / Bleuse / Capuçon

7.30 pm (concert and live reading) – Bramstrup Gods
Znaider / Trifonov
with speaker Katrin Weisser

10.30 pm – Anarchist
Dreamers’ Circus (Nordic Folk Music feature Carl Nielsen)

 

29 August

7.30 pm – Odense Concert Hall
Philharmonia Orchestra / Sokhiev / Trifonov

10.30 pm – Anarchist
Dreamers’ Circus (Nordic Folk Music feature Carl Nielsen)

 

30 August

7.30 pm – Odense Concert Hall
Philharmonia Orchestra / Znaider / Vengerov

10.30 pm – Anarchist
Dreamers’ Circus (Nordic Folk Music feature Carl Nielsen)

 

photo credits:
1. Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider: Lars Gundersen
2. Odense alley: VisitOdense
3. Beach: Mikkel Jézéquel
4. Aerial view of Lundsgaard: Lundsgaard
5. Concert barn in Bramstrup: Camilla Lundbye
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