Issue Date: 5 / 2005

Hans Christian Andersen's Scintillating 200th Birthday

Hans Christian Andersen, 1875. (Danish Royal Library) Click image to enlarge.        The oldest continuing kingdom in the world, Denmark, is regally celebrating the two hundredth birthday of its king of fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen. Beginning and ending with galas, internationally televised, it spreads between April 2 until December 6, 2005. A cultural starburst, these festivities shower the world with creative works and activities themed on Andersen's life and works.                The fairy-tale life of Hans Christian Andersen                Who was this prolific teller of tales whose stories "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Princess and the Pea," and "The Ugly Duckling" are known and loved worldwide? He himself said that the latter was the story of his own life. Like the little cygnet who was uncomfortable at being "different," raised by a mother duck with her ducklings, Andersen eventually developed his gifts of great beauty.                On April 2, 1805, he was born in Odense (O-den'-sa) on Denmark's middle island of Funen--an island of castles and manor houses scattered among fresh green fields. But Andersen, an only child, was born in a tiny two-room yellow house to a poor, though intellectual cobbler and his illiterate, loving wife. Hans' father made puppets for his little boy to play with, instilling in him a lifelong love of the theater. The boy grew up reading and memorizing plays by such writers as Shakespeare; others he wrote himself. Hans was an awkward child--tall, thin, with a large nose and huge feet; and his interests weren't like those of other boys in Odense. All of this made this sensitive boy the target of ridicule.                Hans' father died when he was eleven; so, at fourteen, Hans left Odense to seek his fortune in Copenhagen. There, he struggled as he sought jobs, singing sometimes in the theater about which his father spoke to him. Eventually, Jonas Collin, director of the Royal Danish Theatre, saw jewels in the crudely written stories Hans showed him, and had Hans' education completed.                Eventually, amid stinging criticism, Hans became a published author. The king issued him a stipend for travel, so Andersen often left Denmark, taking long excursions, making friends among royalty and artists of the Golden Age. "To travel is to live," he once said. Wherever he was, Andersen continued writing until his death at age seventy.                Hans Christian Andersen bicentenary celebrations                Denmark is cutting no corners on Andersen's bicentenary. Well planned and inclusive--the celebration explodes with creative arts (opera, symphony, theater, ballet, acrobatics, and more) embracing Andersen's life and fairy tales originating in Denmark as well as countries around the globe.                Officially known as the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation (HCA2005), the organizers of this celebration seek to open a fuller understanding of Andersen's universality. The cooperating HCAabcFoundation offers a fitting legacy to Andersen--by receiving monies to alleviate illiteracy among children (especially girls) in developing countries.                Grand opening                The grand-opening ceremonies, April 2, 2005, telecast worldwide, emanated from Copenhagen's Parken Stadium, transformed into an enchanting fairy-tale universe. This gala, Once Upon a Time, featured some three hundred international entertainers. Susan Sarandon and Harry Belafonte were among performers from the U.S.                Actually, the official grand opening stretched over an eventful three-day weekend from April 1-3. On Friday, April 1, Horseradish Soup and Stuffed Cabbage, with mimes and music, premiered at Copenhagen's recently restored Royal Danish Theatre--the theater Andersen so loved. On Saturday, April 2, the fifty-thousand-euro Odense City Hans Christian Andersen Award was presented to film director Bille August, who plans a major international film on Andersen. The gala Once Upon a Time was held on Saturday. And on Sunday, April 3, a reception, hosted by the Danish Royal Family was held at Copenhagen's Town Hall.                Denmark appointed official "HCA Ambassadors" from seventeen countries. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik made personal presentations to each. Many performed at or attended the gala opening and closing ceremonies, and informed their own countries about H.C. Andersen celebrations. The "Ambassadors" include:                Australia: Athlete Cathy Freeman                Brazil: Soccer player Pele                Belgium: Writer Ann Provost                Chile: Author Isabel Allende                China: Musician Sun Yeng                Denmark: Artist Per Arnoldi                Egypt: First lady Suzanne Mubarak                Iraq: Publisher Fahkri Karim                Ireland: Statesman John Hume                Italy: Formula 1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella                Latvia: Writer Nora Ikstena                Luxembourg: Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Maria Teresa                Mexico: First Lady Mrs. Marta Fox                The Netherlands: Writer Ivo de Wijs                Singapore: Author Catherine Lim                Spain: Ballet dancer Tamara Rojo                Switzerland: Entertainer Kurt Aeschbacher                UK: Broadcaster Sir David Frost                USA: Actress Connie Nielsen, singer Harry Bellafonte                What (when and where) in HCA2005                (For more recent information, search http://www.hca2005.com/HCA2005/Calendar)                Among HCA2005 happenings are:                Throughout 2005:                Copenhagen                *"Golden Days in Copenhagen" and "In the Footsteps of Andersen." Fifty Hans Christian Andersen portraits are exhibited in public spaces as two thousand footprints on sidewalks pass seventy places of interest. Andersen tells (via an actor by cell phone) the significance of each. www.goldendays.dk.                *Hans Christian Andersen and Dickens. The Guest--a play about Hans Christian Andersen's famous visit to Charles Dickens--performs throughout Denmark.                *Hans Christian Andersen's Wonderful World. A fun museum of Andersen's stories with life-sized dioramas of several of his fairy tales. Buttons tell the stories in English or Danish. His study in Nyhaven is replicated, along with sights and sounds of the harbor.                *H.C. Andersen and Tivoli Gardens. Daily except Fridays at dusk, giant sixteen-foot puppets of Andersen's fairy-tale characters, created by Gary Pabin (USA), float through the air as their stories are read, ending with fireworks. May 14­mid-September.                *The Flying Trunk is a daily ride for children with thirty-two scenes from Andersen's fairy tales.                *Love in a Dustbin, with Her Royal Majesty Queen Margrethe as artistic director, dramatizes Andersen's stories on conceit in Tivoli's Pantomime Theatre.                *Various other productions throughout 2005: See http://www.tivoli.dk/composite-297.htm.                *La Glace. Copenhagenıs outstanding confectionery creates thirteen special pastries featuring Andersen's stories, one for each month of the year and an extra for him. These are offered in a new cookbook. http://www.laglace.dk/.                *Rosendahl's official HCA Dinnerware. Designed by Lin Utzon, Rosendahl presents porcelain dinnerware in themes of Andersen's works. Some proceeds help the HCAabcFoundation alleviate illiteracy. www.rosendahl.com/.                *The Royal Theatre. Seven of Andersenıs productions are planned, including an opera.                *Thorvaldsen's Museum. To Write Is an Act of Love Copenhagen, Paris, and Alexandria. An exhibition on how Andersen mastered the art of writing will eventually become a part of Alexandria's World Library in Egypt. www.thorvaldsenmuseum.dk.                Odense area                *Hans Christian Andersen Museums. A compilation of Andersen materials well designed for visitors. Includes Andersen artifacts such as his paper-cuts and sketches. Here, one can walk through the restored furnished childhood home of Andersen. A remarkable Children's Cultural House offers a storytelling room, clothing of fairy tale characters offered for "trying on," as well as a complex of stage sets where children can actually enter into a fairy tale.                *Hans Christian Andersen Parade. Andersen, through an actor, with many of his costumed fairy-tale characters, performs with songs from the American Danny Kay film as well as introductions and performances by the faity-tale characters. This is a warm and animated performance accompanied by the drums of The Steadfast Tin Soldier. It performs on a stage by the Childrenıs Cultural House as well as through the streets of Odense and on stages around the world. (Will appear in Columbus, Ohio, in October).                *Funen Village. An open-air museum offering "edutainment." A recreated village of Andersen's time, with some thirty buildings, living-history demonstrators, and occasional concerts and theatrical performances. www.odmus.dk                Around the World 2005                (Dates to be announced)                Australia and Denmark                The Australian ballet performs Wild Swans at Copenhagenıs Royal Danish Theatre as well as at the Sydney Opera House.                China                The Beautiful Legend, an acrobatic show based on Andersen's works presented by the Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe, directed by An Ning. Premieres in China before touring Europe.                China and Denmark                100 Artists Exhibition of works by Chinese artists offers reflections on Andersen qualities. Premieres in China before traveling to Denmark.                Denmark and World Tour                The Danish National Symphony Orchestra presents works related to Andersen in Denmark as well as China, Korea, Taiwan, Canada, the USA and most of Europe.                *Denmark, Funen                The Hans Christian Andersen Tapestry embroidered, sewn, and painted by children in public libraries under direction of an artist. Depicting Andersen and his works, it is inspired by the Bayeux tapestry of the Middle Ages.                *Japan—Funabashi, sister-city to Odense                The Tenderbox Children's Culture House is established within a public park.                Some 2005 Hans Christian Andersen Events (by Dates)                May 2005                *Australia, Gold Coast. Red Shoes and The Little Mermaid ballets presented by Gold Coast Dancers Inc. May 14 & May 15. desleymunroe@hotmail.com                *Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. Bienal do Livro. A play performed at the children's book fair. May 1.                *Denmark. Fairy-Tales in Sand. Twelve of Andersen's fairy tales built in giant sand sculptures. From May to October:                - Copenhagen, May 28-October 16                - Odense, May 14-August 28                - Blokhus, June 30-September 12                - Romo, July 3­September 12                - Sĝndervig, June 19­September 12                *Sweden, Stockholm. Kungliga Filharminikerna--The Tinderbox. Symphony. May 11 & 12.                June 2005                *Denmark, Arhus. "Magical Pictures of the World," on streets of Arhus shows scenes from Andersen's fairy tales. June 3.                *Denmark, Arhus. Arhus Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Fairy Tales. June 8.                *Denmark, Orbaek. Lykkesholm Castle--concert, theater, guided castle tours, and carriage rides. Kungliga Filharmonica presents The Tinderbox. June 11.                *Ireland, Dublin. National Library, traveling H. C. Andersen Exhibition. June 15-July 15.                July 2005                *Denmark, Copenhagen. The Little Mermaid performed on a huge floating stage by a cast of 650. August 4­7. www.kgl-teater.dk.                *Denmark, Copenhagen. Thumbelina ballet at Pantomime Theatre in Tivoli. HM Queen Margrethe designs costumes and stage sets. July 14-September.                *Denmark, Copenhagen. Musical performance, I am only apparently dead, about Andersen as poet and man. Hotel Pro Forma. August 17.                *Denmark, Odense. The Funen Opera presents a double performance of Andersen's Little Kirsten and The Nightingale. August 21-31.                *Denmark, Skaelskor. A festival highlighting Andersen in music, readings, and lectures. July 31-August 5.                *Germany, Freiburg. Albert Ludwig University offers public lectures on Andersen. July 1-August 31.                *Japan, Yokohama. Space Factory theater group stages an interactive performance on Andersen's fairy-tales. July 17.                *Singapore. No Two People presents a one-man show at Concert Theatre by Malaysian actor Sean Ghazi performing fusing the 1982 Danny Kay film with a twenty-first century look at Andersen. July 1. www.theartshouse.com.sg                August 2005                *Denmark, Aarhus. "Fairy-Tale Evenings." Concert & theater at Clausholm Castle. August 5-19.                *Japan, Tokyo. Japan's Setagaya Public Theatre and Italy's Teatro Kismet co-produce an innovative production of Andersen's The Snow Queen. August 1.                *The Netherlands, Amsterdam. Danish National Symphony Orchestra performs works based on Andersen's works. Will tour world- wide. August 10.                September 2005                *Chile. Fundacion de Orquestas Juvemiles e Infantiles de Chile presents Andersen's The Traveling Companion. September 15.                *Denmark, Aarhus. Aarhus Symphony Orchestra presents Fabliau. September 15.                *Denmark, Copenhagen. Gala "Birthday Parade" honoring the day in 1819 when Andersen first set foot in Copenhagen (called his 2nd birthday)--grandest parade ever staged in Denmark. September 6.         Little Mermaid by the sea in Copenhagen. (İ 2005 Jeanne Conte) Click image to enlarge.        *France, Paris. "To Write Is an Act of Love," a unique exhibition centering on Andersen's struggle to read and master writing using his diaries in part. At the UNESCO Building September 5­23.                October 2005                *Denmark, Copenhagen. Australian Ballet performs Andersen's Wild Swans at Copenhagen's new Opera House. October 18.                *Denmark, Copenhagen. The Secret Arias world premiere opera based on                Andersen's love for Jenny Lind. www.kb.dk                *Spain, Madrid. Madridıs October Festival premieres the play Andersen, inspired by King Lear and an Andersen story.                November 2005                *Egypt, Alexandria. The World Library in Alexandria presents an exhibition about Andersen's mastering the art of writing.                *Singapore. The Snow Queen presented by SRT's The Little Company as a family musical. November 15­December 15. www.srt.com.sg                December 2005                *Germany, Altoona. The Altoona Museum presents an exhibition transcending time and culture about Andersenıs use of toys. November 8­January 29, 2006.                *Germany, Regensburg. "A Long Night of Reading." Christmas and winter fairy-tale readings. letters@delon.de                *Italy, Switzerland, and other European countries. Odense Symphony Orchestra presents new works based on Andersenıs stories. December 3-12.                *Denmark, Odense. Gala closing ceremony of HCA2005 at Andersen's birthplace of Odense. It was on a December 6 in the nineteenth century that Odense, with great honor, welcomed Andersen home. To be telecast worldwide. December 6.                Ongoing Plans and Hans Christian Andersen                If only, lament the Danes, Andersen could see what is happening this year in Denmark and around the world in his name. Efforts of this magnitude are ongoing with updates, additions and changes expected throughout the year. It would be well to check Web sites.                Andersen wrote poems, novels, travel books, plays, lyrics for an opera, and close to one hundred seventy fairy tales. He mastered the art of making intricate paper-cuts and sketches, and even prophesied what has come to pass after his death in 1875:                "Yes, ... years from now men will fly on wings of steam through the air, across the ocean. The young inhabitants of America will visit old Europe. ... The ship of the air comes. It is crowded with passengers. ... The electromagnetic wire ... has already cabled the number of aereal travelers.                --Hans Christian Andersen (written in 1853)                Many such travelers will fly into Denmark this year, all because of Hans Christian Andersen.                www.visitdenmark.com                www.visitcopenhagen.dk                http://www.hca2005.com/HCA2005/Calendar                www.Kultunaut.com                www.symphonicfairytales.com                 Jeanne Conte is a freelance writer based in Powell, Ohio.