The Royal Danish Orchestra has played a dominant role in Danish cultural life for more than 500 years. In 1448, immediately after the Coronation of King Christian I, a Royal corps of trumpeters and drummers was established in Denmark. The present Orchestra has its roots back in that event. The Royal Theatre was opened in 1748, and in 1770 the Orchestra was given a permanent position there and in reality was the only symphony orchestra in Denmark up until 1850.
In recent years Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, Karl Böhm, Sir George Solti, Jerzy Semkov and Michael Tilson Thomas have conducted the Orchestra. The Royal Danish Orchestra has toured with great success in Japan, Australia, England and the Baltic countries. In 1992 the Finnish conductor Paavo Berglund took up the position as artistic director of the Orchestra, and together they recorded Carl Nielsen’s symphonies. With the artistic director Michael Schønwandt, the Orchestra has recorded C.E.F. Weyse’s seven symphonies. Both recordings have won awards in Denmark and abroad.
03/01/2012 Opera
05/12/2011 American Record Guide
21/11/2011 Gramophone
30/08/2011 Classica
16/08/2011 TimeOut Chicago Review
30/06/2011 International Record Review
01/06/2011 David's Review Corner
19/07/2010 Records International
11/06/2010 Nordjyske Stiftstidende
07/05/2010 Klassisk
01/04/2010 Ballet Review
DVD 2.110410 (2011)
Poul Ruders' heart-rending opera from 2010 based on Lars von Trier's film "Dancer in the Dark"
DVD 2.110408 (2010)
Bo Holten's new and greatly received opera on DVD recorded live from the Royal Opera in Copenhagen
DVD 2.110407 (2007)
The Danish "national opera" in a rebellious, witty new interpretation
CD 8.226042-43 (2006)
The vibrant successor to Ruders’ world success The Handmaid’s Tale
CD 8.224165-66 (2001)
Vor tids stærkeste opera – et genialt og rystende værk
CD 8.224014 (1995)
First recording of Weyse’s two greatest symphonies
CD 8.224013 (1995)
Vienna Classicism from the 1790s with a Nordic accent
CD 8.224012 (1994)
The first full-scale Danish symphonies, inspired by Haydn and Mozart
DCCD 9207-08 (1993)