Hans Christian Andersen's 200th Birthday Festivities: April 1-3, 2005

[bigheadshirmp]

are any new state visits planned?

no state visit....but...how about....

Denmark will be throwing a gigantic birthday bash to celebrate the 200th birthday of Hans Christian Andersen ? 40,000 guests are invited The eight-month long celebration of Hans Christian Andersen’s 200th birthday will kick off with a gigantic birthday party in Denmark’s national stadium Parken on 2 April.

The show, ‘Once upon a time’, is expected to draw 40,000 in attendance and a worldwide television audience, including China, where interest for H.C. Andersen is immense, according to project manager, Ulrik Skotte of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.

Denmark’s entire royal family will be in attendance, and the royals from Sweden and the Netherlands have also placed their reservations.

Andersen’s best-known fairy tales provide the backdrop for the show, taking audience members and viewers on a journey through the poet’s life. Prominent figures from the poet’s life are transformed into characters from his stories on a gigantic 900 square metre stage - the largest one ever built in the stadium.

The centrepiece of the show will be six short movies that cover different stages from Andersen’s life, including his days as ‘an ugly duckling’ in Odense, his youthful years in Copenhagen, his adult years with success, travels. And finally to his homecoming to Odense, where he was honoured as a hero.

Andersen is portrayed by Henrik Kofoed, while international actors will fill most of the other roles.

The celebration is expected to cost DKK 50 million (EUR 6.6 million). Profits will be donated to the HCA-abc Foundation, which was started in April 2004 to combat illiteracy.


from copenhagenpost.dk

 

[HMQueenElizabethII]

But there was a Gala to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen in London on Friday 18th March.TRH the Duke and the Duchess of Gloucester were there.Any pics of that?

 

[Alisa]

Hans Christian Andersen's 200th Birthday Festivities; April 1st-3rd, 2005

Here is a list of the scheduled activities. The events will be attended by just about all the HCA ambassadors that have been appointed including a few royals like Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands.

The Hans Christian Andersen Fairytale Weekend in Copenhagen, Sorø and Odense 1 - 3 April 2005

Official arrangements without ticket sales are marked with *

Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Friday 1 April:

In Odense:
- 9.00 a.m-1.30 p.m.: Mr. Torben Iversen and the Hans Christian Andersen Parade invites the children of Odense to join the birthday celebration in Odense Concert Hall (Odense Koncerthus). (Primarily for children).
Arranged by: Kultursekretariatet, Odense Municipality.
Address: Odense Koncerthus, Claus Bergs Gade 9, 5000 Odense C.
Tel: 0045 66 14 78 00

- 3.00 p.m-7.00 p.m.: Reading Marathon in the central part of Odense city.
Free admission
Arranged by: Odense Theatre/ The HCA 2005 Foundation /Odense Municipality.

- 8.00 p.m.: Fairy Tales and Silent Movie. Concert with Odense Symphony Orchestra in Odense Concert Hall (Odense Koncerthus).
Reading of H.C. Andersen's Rejsekammaraten in Danish by renowned Danish actress Ghita Nørby, music by Danish composer Fuzzy.
Film: Charlie Chaplin's silent movie City of Lights. Music composed by Carl Davis and conducted by Frank Strobel
Arranged by: Odense Symphony Orchestra
Tickets: Tel: 0045 66124480

- 9.30 p.m.: Fire works show by French Groupe F.
Free admission.
Arranged by: The HCA 2005 Foundation / Odense Municipality.

- 10.30: Bishop Kresten Drejergaard encourages all churches in Odense to mark the Hans Christian Andersen Bicentenary by ringing the church bells.
Arranged by: Kresten Drejergaard, bishop of Odense.

In Copenhagen:
- * 8.00 p.m.: Gala premiere of the Andersen fantasia Raddish and Stuffed Cabbage at the Royal Danish Theatre. Directed by renowned Swedish director Lars Rudolphsson.
Arranged by: The HCA 2005 Foundation.
Press access: Accreditation can be made at www.hca2005.com.



Saturday 2 April:

In Odense:
- 8.00 a.m.: Ceremony at the Hans Christian Andersen statue in public park Eventyrhaven.
Free admission.
Arranged by: Odense City Museums / The HCA 2005 Foundation.

- 8.45 a.m.: Church service in Odense Cathedral by priest and writer Johannes Møllehave.

- 10.00 a.m.: Children's house of culture Børnekulturhuset Fyrtøjet.
Distribution of Danish children's book Se det var en rigtig prinsesse to the local schools and kindergartens of Odense. Experience the exhibition In the Heart of Andersen - a sensory experience installation involving the children and adults in the audience.
Arranged by: Children's house of culture Børnekulturhuset Fyrtøjet

- * 10.00 a.m.: Official arrival of the VIP-train with invited guests at Odense Central Station.

- * 10.30 a.m.: Reception of the VIP-guests by the Mayor of Odense Mr. Anker Boye at Odense City Hall.
Entertainment: local choir and the Odense Drum Majorettes.
Arranged by: Odense Kommune, coordinated by the HCA 2005 Fonden.

- * 11.00 a.m.: Special VIP-tour of Hans Christian Andersen's birth home H.C. Andersens Hus.
Arranged by: Odense City Museums.

- 11.30 a.m.: Choir performance on the Odense City Hall Square Flakhaven.
All amateur choirs from Odense performs together at Flakhaven followed by performances around the city between noon and 2.15 p.m.

- * Noon: Official lunch in Odense Koncerthus for all VIPs and invited guest.
Arranged by/host: Odense Municipality, coordinated by the HCA 2005 Foundation.

- Noon-3 p.m.: Reading marathon in the central part of Odense.
Free admission.

- * 1.30 p.m.: Award Ceremony and entertainment at Odense Concert Hall. The 2005 Odense City Hans Christian Andersen Award of 50.000 Euros and the Hans Christian Andersen Committee Honorary Awards will be presented.
Arranged by: Odense Municipality, coordinated by the HCA 2005 Foundation.

- 3 p.m.: Outdoor concert at Amfiscenen in Odense with Danish artists.

- * 3.15 p.m.: Official departure for the invited guests by VIP-train from Odense Central Station. The guests will return to Copenhagen.

- 3.00-4.00 p.m.: Guided tour in Danish around Odense's new H.C. Andersen Forest.
Access from the parking lot on Svendsagervej v. Åsum, Odense.

- 4 p.m.: Award ceremony of the H.C. Andersen Award to a talented student
The ceremony takes place in H.C. Andersen's birth home H.C. Andersens Hus.

- 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m.: Two family and children's shows by Danish entertainer Sigurd Barrett in Odense Concert Hall (Odense Koncerthus) by Odense Symphony Orchestra.
Arranged by: The HCA 2005 Foundation.

- Kender du Svimmel? - Bed at hun ikke griber dig
A play about H.C. Andersen by Sven Holm. Renowned Danish actor Jesper Langberg visits Odense in the role of Hans Christian Andersen.
Directed by: Henrik Sartou
Odense Theatre, Jernbanegade 21. 5000 Odense C
From April 2nd through April 21st. 2005
Tickets: Odense Theatre's ticket office 0045 6612 0052, email: otb@odenseteater.dk or www. billetnet.dk.


In Sorø:
Program will follow.


In Copenhagen:
- 9 p.m.: Once upon a time - the fairy tale show at the Danish national soccer stadium PARKEN.
42,000 people in PARKEN will witness the most spectacular fairytale ever. The star-studded show, including musicians, acrobats and dancers, will set Andersen's fairytale world to music, images, and words.
The gigantic TV show is to be the highlight of the three-day opening celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of the Danish storyteller and poet Hans Christian Andersen.
Tickets are sold at www.billetnet.dk.
Press access: Accreditation can be made at www.hca2005.com.



Sunday 3 April:

In Copenhagen:
- * Noon: Reception at Copenhagen Town Hall for HCA-Ambassadors and invited guests.
Arranged by: HCA 2005 Fonden

 

[Alisa]

40,000 guests are invited

Denmark will be throwing a gigantic birthday bash to celebrate the 200th birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, 40,000 guests are invited. The eight-month long celebration of Hans Christian Andersen’s 200th birthday will kick off with a gigantic birthday party in Denmark’s national stadium Parken on 2 April.

The show, ‘Once upon a time’, is expected to draw 40,000 in attendance and a worldwide television audience, including China, where interest for H.C. Andersen is immense, according to project manager, Ulrik Skotte of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.

Denmark’s entire royal family will be in attendance, and the royals from Sweden and the Netherlands have also placed their reservations.

Andersen’s best-known fairy tales provide the backdrop for the show, taking audience members and viewers on a journey through the poet’s life. Prominent figures from the poet’s life are transformed into characters from his stories on a gigantic 900 square metre stage - the largest one ever built in the stadium.

The centrepiece of the show will be six short movies that cover different stages from Andersen’s life, including his days as ‘an ugly duckling’ in Odense, his youthful years in Copenhagen, his adult years with success, travels. And finally to his homecoming to Odense, where he was honoured as a hero.

Andersen is portrayed by Henrik Kofoed, while international actors will fill most of the other roles.

The celebration is expected to cost DKK 50 million (EUR 6.6 million). Profits will be donated to the HCA-abc Foundation, which was started in April 2004 to combat illiteracy.

http://www.cphpost.dk/get/86249.html

 

[Alisa]

A Royal Fairytale Weekend

Another article

A Royal Fairytale Weekend

The royal chambers will be all but vacated during the first weekend of April. The entire Royal Family, young and old, will attend the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen to be celebrated with a Fairytale Weekend 1- 3 April.

By ms - H.C. Andersen 2005 - 26 January 2005



The Danish Royal Family will have much to do when the Fairytale Weekend launches the official celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen. The enchanted weekend programme has inspired the Royal Family, which will preside over events in both Copenhagen and Odense.

"Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is patron of the Hans Christian Andersen Foundation. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Henrik and Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim, Princess Alexandra and Princess Benedikte have all presided over the appointment of Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors in several nations. Naturally, we are very grateful that the entire Royal Family will grace us with their presence on the anniversary itself," says Secretary General for the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation, Lars Seeberg.

Her Majesty the Queen and HRH the Prince Consort will attend a host of events during the Fairytale Weekend. They will preside over the Royal Command Performance at the Royal Danish Theatre Friday evening as well as events on Saturday afternoon in Odense and the grand opening show Once Upon a Time at the national Danish soccer stadium, PARKEN, in Copenhagen. This will be the Queen's first visit to the stadium.

HRH Crown Prince Frederik and HRH Crown Princess Mary will also attend the Royal Command Performance at the Royal Danish Theatre on Friday evening as well as the opening show at PARKEN Saturday evening and the reception at Copenhagen Town Hall on Sunday. They will however not be travelling to Odense, since they paid a visit to the city during their summer cruise on the Royal Yacht last year. HRH Prince Joachim and HRH Princess Alexandria will both be attending the weekend events and will follow the same programme as the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

HRH Princess Benedikte will attend an Andersen anniversary celebration at the Royal Danish Embassy in Berlin on the afternoon of the 2 April. However, the Princess is to return to Copenhagen shortly after where she and her husband, Prince Richard zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, will attend the opening show at PARKEN as well as the Royal Command Performance at the Royal Danish Theatre and the reception at the Copenhagen Town Hall. HH Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her husband Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth will also attend the weekend events in Odense and Copenhagen.

Her Majesty Queen Anne-Marie and the Greek Royal Family have naturally also been invited to the Fairytale Weekend but are unfortunately unable to attend.

Other royal dignitaries are expected to attend the Andersen's bicentennial anniversary. HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden as well as HRH Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands and HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxemburg, who are both Honorary Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors.

 

[Alisa]

The List of Performers

are:

-American singer Tina Turner
-Australian singer Olivia Newton John,
-pop singer Daniel Bedingfield
-French musician Jean-Michel Jarre
-American opera singer Renee Fleming.

 

[Josefine]

Wonder what victoria is doing there she is not a Ambassador

 

[sara1981]

have any royals who attend have lists?

Sara Boyce

 

[paulette]

Wonder what victoria is doing there she is not a Ambassador

I think the various royal houses especially in Europe have been invited for the 200th celebration of Hans Christian Andersen but maybe they declined due to some important reasons.

CP Victoria is coming because maybe she is available for the specific event.

 

[Josefine]

I think the various royal houses especially in Europe have been invited for the 200th celebration of Hans Christian Andersen but maybe they declined due to some important reasons.

CP Victoria is coming because maybe she is available for the specific event.

is it known if all royal houses got a invenation?
and is it a gala with tiaras?

 

[HMQueenElizabethII]

I think only the Royals from The Netherlands,Sweden or Belgium,generally the Royals from North Europe.

I would like to see the British Royals to be there too.The Duchess of Gloucester,she was Danish.I think she did attended the funeral of the late Queen Ingrid, didn't her?And also last week or maybe 2 weeks ago, she and the Duke of Gloucester attended a Gala to celebrate the 400th anniversary of this event in London.

 

[GrandDuchess]

1 April:

Here are some pictures from Colourpress of Princess Benedikte, Harry Belafonte, Connie Nielsen and Sir Roger Moore & Kiki Tholstrup attending some kind of activities today!

 

[GrandDuchess]

1 April:

Colourpress also has some pics of Tina Turner rehearsing for the show "Once Upon A Time" at Parken tomorrow:

 

[GrandDuchess]

From the Gala Performance at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen tonight:

 

[GrandDuchess]

From the Gala Performance at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen tonight, pics are from Imagine Scandinavia:

 

[GrandDuchess]

From the Gala Performance at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen tonight, pics are from Imagine Scandinavia:

 

[AnaM]

How warm is it in Denmark today? Judging from Victoria and Laurentien one would think it's a nice summer evening!

 

[marezdote]

How warm is it in Denmark today? Judging from Victoria and Laurentien one would think it's a nice summer evening!

I'm not sure but Mary and the Queen seem to be quite bundled up.

 

[norwegianne]

It's been sunny all day here in Copenhagen, though a bit chilly. But they're only walking a short distance from the cars to go inside, so I would presume that it would be manageable.


I really liked Laurentien's outfit. It looked so good on her, I thought.

It is her husband next to her? Or am I wrong? It looks like him, though I by no means am an avid follower of the Dutch Royal Family. But the Danish commentators on DR1, which sent the whole thing live, only kept talking about Princess Laurentien.

 

[AnaM]

I love Princess Laurentien's shoes! Does anyone else think Princess Laurentien's shoes look like the ones Crown Princess Mary wore for her wedding and for her visit to London?

 

[rere]

Was M-T of Luxembourg there? An earlier report said she would attend.

 

[Anna_R]

http://www.colourpress.com/index.cfm?Goto=frontend/fotos/ShowSerie.cfm&nPictureSerieNo=4725

Royals and celebrities at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen

The celebration of the 200-years birthday anniversary of danish writer H. C. Andersen April 1-2 2005 at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen.

 

[Anna_R]

Still from Colourpress

 

[Anna_R]

Some more still from Colourpress

 

[Anna_R]

And more....

 

[Alexandria]

Fantastic pictures Anna! Thank you for sharing them. Everyone looked sensational! Mary was my favourite, followed by Benedikte then Laurentien.

I have two questions about the apparel worn at this event:

1) What was the weather like in Denmark on this occasion that Margrethe was wearing a fur jacket yet Victoria was bare shouldered and in a thin evening top? Benedikte was in a heav-ish jacket, Mary was in a suit jacket, Laurentien was bare-arms and Alexandra in a long-sleeved dress. Very confusing!

2) What was the dress code exactly for this occasion? It didn't seem as obvious with Margrethe, Benedikte and Laurentien in gala/evening dresses, Victoria in pants and a beaded top which was glittery but not quite dressy enough for a gala, and Mary and Alexandra somewhere in between their mother-in-law and aunt and Victoria in semi-formal outfits -- Alexandra being a bit more dressier than Mary though.

 

[Anna_R]

Fantastic pictures Anna! Thank you for sharing them. Everyone looked sensational! Mary was my favourite, followed by Benedikte then Laurentien.

I also liked Mary's dress very much, but I would like to see it without the jacket, it seem a strapless dress to me....

 

[pdas1201]

I also liked Mary's dress very much, but I would like to see it without the jacket, it seem a strapless dress to me....

Mary's dress is most probably strapless or have spaghetti straps, could be made by Heartmade. She wore the dress previously to Bent Fabricius's 80th Birthday celebrations on December 7, 2004. Since, she was wearing an overcoat over the dress and there were no pics from inside the party. We were unable to see the "top" of the dress.

Attached from from Bent Fabricius's 80th birthday party

 

[pdas1201]

My favorite would have to be Laurentien, followed by Alexandra and Mary.

Anyways, here are more pics of the event I found from various other sources.

 

[Alisa]

Thanks for all the photos.

My favorite outfit of the night was the one by Crown Princess Mary.She looked elegant and chic.

I was very impressed by the upper portion of Princess Alexandra's dress when I first saw it, until I noticed the flower pattern continued throught the dress. I think the pattern was too much for an dress and those pink yarn balls around the hemline and sleeves reminded me of newborn socks. Her make up was very lovely though.

Princess Benedikte surprised me with that high slit in her dress!

I was also pleasantly surprised by how well Prince Joachim looked. He looked very dashing and debonair in his pin striped suit and lavender tie.