Concerts
Copenhagen Baroque Festival 2024
September 4-8, 2024
When we listen to music, we often envision images and stories in our mind’s eye. Music sets us free in the interplay between reality and imagination. But how do we listen, what captures the ear and how do we arrive at the stories? With this year’s theme at the Copenhagen Baroque Festival, we invite you to unleash your imagination. And, through fantastic narratives, provide a shared point of focus for our musical experiences.
The festival takes place from September 4th to 8th, 2024, at Trinitatis Church, The Round Tower, and the Rosenborg Castle. Learn more about the concert program below!
Heavenly Harmony
Wednesday, September 4th at 7:30 PM – Church of Our Savior
Experience the French baritone Marc Mauillon in a concert dedicated to the patron saint of music, Saint Cecilia. For what is life without music?
Together with the sublimely sounding baroque orchestra, Arte dei Suonatori, we embark on an adventure with musical nuances. The program includes both festive fanfares, and grand homage music. A heartfelt start to the 2024 Copenhagen Baroque Festival! One should expect music by Georg Friedrich Händel and Henry Purcell – including excerpts from the famous and beautiful works Alexander’s Feast and Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day.
Performers: Marc Mauillon (baritone, France) and Arte dei Suonatori (Poland)
Admission: 200 DKK / 50 DKK for students and youth under 18 years
Variation over a variation
Wednesday, September 4th at 9:30 PM – Church of Our Saviour
It is said that the Goldberg Variations were commissioned by Count Kaiserling from J.S. Bach because he had difficulty falling asleep and wanted his private harpsichordist, Goldberg, to play lullabies for him every night. Whether this is a legend or not, we have invited pianist Carsten Dahl to perform a late-night concert with improvisations in baroque style, inspired by the Goldberg Variations.
Performer: Carsten Dahl (DK)
Admission: 100 DKK / 50 DKK for students and youth under 18 years
Traveling Tales
Thursday, September 5th at 8:00 PM – Library Hall in the Round Tower
In this concert, we will embark on a journey from the British Isles to Lolland, as Poul and Silene Høxbro play Celtic melodies from the music manuscript Reventlow’s Notebook from 1799. The musicians take us on a voyage around the North Sea, where one can hear Scottish melodies in the distance, Nordic folk tunes, and familiar touches from Denmark. Experience how music effortlessly travels through time and continues to captivate us, generation after generation, in ever-new interpretations.
Performers: Poul Høxbro (low whistle, DK) and Silene Høxbro (steel-string guitar, DK), along with Ellen Hillingsøe (narration, DK)
Admission: 150 DKK / 50 DKK for students and youth under 18 years
Past, Present and Future
Thursday, September 5th at 9:30 PM – Reformed Church
In 2024, the Talent Academy consists of Anna Johansson (baroque cello), Julius Vilfred Hartung (harpsichord), and Nanna Treu (baroque violin). Meet tomorrow’s baroque musicians as they perform this late-night concert featuring solo works, duets, and trios from the baroque period.
The Talent Academy was established in 2023 with the aim of creating a pipeline of musicians passionate about specializing in early music. As part of the Talent Academy, young music students or recent graduates will have the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with international baroque artists, which are part of the Copenhagen Baroque Festival. They can play with the festival orchestra Arte dei Suonatori during the festival, attend all rehearsals and concerts, perform at the festival, and generally participate in all festival activities, creating a broad network among the festival’s many musicians. Come and experience these wonderful young talents in an atmospheric late-night concert!
Performers: Copenhagen Baroque Festival’s Talent Academy
Admission: 50 DKK
A Fairy Tale
Friday, September 6th at 4:30 PM – Trinitatis Church
The viola is the middle child of the violin family and often overlooked when composers created solo works for the great stars of the time. Fortunately, there are some truly enchanting gems. This afternoon, you can experience Telemann’s music for solo viola and with orchestra, as well as a double concerto for viola and harpsichord by J.C.F. Bach. The concert’s soloist is this year’s Young Talent, Anna Krzyzak.
‘Young Talent’ is a title awarded to a young, professional musician with exceptional soloist and ensemble musician talent. Each year, the next year’s Young Talent performs a surprise encore at a random concert, and their name is thus announced a year before they perform their own solo concert at the festival. This gives our audience a unique opportunity to experience some of the future stars of baroque music.
This year, you can hear Anna Krzyzak, a violist who plays with Arte dei Suonatori. Anna played a beautiful encore at the concert at Rosenborg Castle in 2023, so some of our audience members already know her. We have followed Anna for many years as a musician, particularly in the orchestra, which is a regular part of the festival year after year, and Anna’s talent shines clearly. The warm tone of the viola is reflected in her personality, and she is also bold in her exploration of both baroque and contemporary music.
Performers: Anna Krzyzak (viola, Poland), Aline Zylberajch (harpsichord, Poland) and Arte dei Suonatori (Poland)
Free admission
Hidden Treasures
Friday, September 6th at 8:00 PM – Round Tower
On this magical evening, we invite you to a concert under the starlight. We have found inspiration in Sophie Brahe, the wise and visionary Renaissance woman who, with her passion for astronomy, observed the stars in the sky. Imagine that the same constellations can still be seen today, inspiring and connecting us across time. We have also delved into modern poetry by Edith Södergran, which is about or inspired by the light of the sky. Together with flutist Joachim Becerra Thomsen and actress Ellen Hillingsø, we will capture some musical moments among the stars and bring them down to earth—right here in the Round Tower.
Performers: Joachim Becerra Thomsen (flute) and actress Ellen Hillingsø (narration)
Admission: 150 DKK / 50 DKK for students and youth under 18 years
Harmony and Heroines
Saturday, September 7th at 3:00 PM – Trinitatis Church
Most of the female composers of the baroque era have been forgotten by posterity, but in this concert, we have unearthed choral works and sonatas by the two Italian composers Isabella Leonarda and Chiara Margarita Cozzolani. Fredensborg Palace Church Girls’ Choir and conductor Cille Buch will open the concert with medieval tones from Hildegard von Bingen, and together with Arte dei Suonatori, the sounds will unfold to tell the story of women’s place in music history.
Performers: Arte dei Suonatori (Poland) and Fredensborg Palace Church Girls’ Choir, conducted by Cille Buch (Denmark)
Admission: 250 DKK / 50 DKK for students and youth under 18 years
Secrets of the Castle
Saturday, September 7th at 5:30 PM – Rosenborg Castle, Knight’s Hall
The Knight’s Hall, the tapestries, festive dinners, and plenty of music – the walls of Rosenborg Castle could surely tell many stories if they could speak. In the golden hour of late summer, we invite you to a concert in the castle’s Knight’s Hall with the two royal opera singers Clara Cecilie Thomsen and Kyungil Ko, along with Alon Sariel on lute/theorbo, where we will unveil the castle’s secrets through historical texts and musical narratives.
Note: Rosenborg Castle was built in the 17th century, and there is limited access to the Knight’s Hall for those with mobility issues – access is via a narrow spiral staircase. We apologize if this presents an obstacle for some and hope to see you at one of the festival’s other concerts.
Performers: Clara Cecilie Thomsen (soprano), Kyungil Ko (bass), Alon Sariel (lute/theorbo), and Ellen Hillingsøe (narration)
Admission: 300 DKK
Cantata Service
Sunday, September 8th at 10:30 AM – Trinitatis Church
As tradition dictates, we perform a cantata every year in Trinitatis Church together with the church’s choir, soloists, and musicians, as well as Arte dei Suonatori. At this year’s cantata service, you can hear J.S. Bach’s Cantata No. 138 “Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz?”
Performers: Trinitatis Church Choir (Denmark) and Arte dei Suonatori (Poland)
Free admission
Crown Jewels of Music
Sunday, September 8th at 5:30 PM – Rosenborg Castle, Knight’s Hall
Join us at Rosenborg Castle and listen to the crown musical jewels of the renaissance era. Experience the popular music under the reign of Christian IV, as Reiko Ichise, Bolette Roed, and Aureliusz Golinski conclude this year’s festival together with Trine Heide beautifully guiding us through the history of Christian IV.
Note: Rosenborg Castle was built in the 17th century, and there is limited access to the Knight’s Hall for those with mobility issues – access is via a narrow spiral staircase. We apologize if this presents an obstacle for some and hope to see you at one of the festival’s other concerts.
Performers: Bolette Roed (recorder, DK), Aureliusz Golinski (violin, Poland), Reiko Ichise (viola da gamba, Japan), Poul Høxbro (flute and drum, DK) and Trine Heide (narration, DK)
Admission: 250 DKK
Thanks to
Copenhagen Baroque Festival is supported by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland from the Culture Promotion Fund.