Learn About Hygge

In this episode of the I Can't Sleep Podcast, fall asleep learning about Hygge. What is it? How do you say it? Only the Danes can confirm my attempt, but you'll be basking in its comfort long before its meaning unfolds. Happy sleeping!

Transcript

Welcome to the I Can't Sleep podcast,

Where I read random articles from across the web to bore you to sleep with my soothing voice.

I'm your host,

Benjamin Moster.

Today's episode is from a Wikipedia article titled Hygge.

Hygge is a word in Danish and Norwegian that describes a cozy,

Contented mood evoked by comfort and conviviality.

As a cultural category with its sets of associated practices,

Hygge has more or less the same meaning in both places and in both languages.

However,

The emphasis on hygge as a core part of Danish culture is a recent phenomenon,

Dating to the late 20th century.

In the 21st century,

The concept has also been familiarized abroad.

By convention,

The word hygge is thought to originate from a Danish word meaning valiant,

Comfort,

Joy.

Hygge stems from hygge,

Which means to think in Old Norse.

Hygge is derived from the Old Norse hygger,

Later hygge,

Which means the soul,

Mind,

Consciousness.

But it is speculated that hygge may derive from a homograph hygge,

Originated in the 1560s word hygge,

Which means to embrace.

Hygge is of unknown origin,

But is highly associated with an Old Norse term hygge,

To comfort,

Which comes from hygger,

Meaning mood.

In turn,

Hygger is a cognate of the Old English hyggen and comes from the Germanic hyggen,

Meaning like Old Norse hygge,

To think,

Consider.

It first appeared in Danish writing in the 19th century and has since evolved into the cultural idea known in Denmark and Norway today.

While hygge has exactly the same meaning in Norwegian as in Danish,

And is a widely used word in both Norway and Denmark,

Including in its derived forms such as hyggelig,

The emphasis,

Especially on hygge,

Is an important part of cultural identity is mostly Danish.

In Norway,

Hygge is just a word similar in status to cozy.

In both Danish and Norwegian,

Hygge refers to a form of everyday togetherness,

A pleasant and highly valued everyday experience of safety,

Equality,

Personal wholeness,

And a spontaneous social flow.

The noun hygge includes something nice,

Cozy,

Safe,

And known,

Referring to a psychological state.

The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen has studied the positive effect of hygge on Danish society.

Collins English Dictionary defines the word as a concept originating in Denmark of creating cozy and convivial atmospheres that promote well-being.

In Cultural Semantics and Social Cognition,

A case study on Danish universe of meaning,

De Grote Morten addresses how translating hygge into English is highly problematic.

The difference in translation has led to different interpretations of the word.

Hygge is a way of life for Danes that embodies a sense of coziness,

Simplicity,

And being present.

Researchers Moyer and Miking define hygge as a restorative practice and emphasize Danes' strong commitment to it.

Mieke Wiking,

The author of The Little Book of Hygge,

Created by Hygge Manifesto,

Which quantifies hygge into ten ideals.

Atmosphere,

Presence,

Pleasure,

Equality,

Gratitude,

Comfort,

Togetherness,

Harmony,

Truce,

And shelter.

Wiking believes that these ten ideals are key qualities for living a happy life.

Many different Danish traditions are influenced by hygge.

For instance,

In winter months,

Danes often make home-cooked food,

Such as kegs or meatballs,

From scratch.

Additionally,

Hygge inspires Danish interior design throughout the year.

Since pie,

Yuletide,

Sweaters,

Hot cocoa,

And soup are yuletide traditions,

Autumn and winter may seem to be the sole seasons of hygge.

However,

Moments of hygge happen throughout the year,

Including in summer.

Examples of hot-weather outdoor activities considered hygge include picnics,

Barbecues,

Concerts,

Street fairs,

And cycling.

In Lindsay Roberts' article,

Six Ways to Get That Hygge Feeling,

Even in the Summer Swelter,

She suggests giving furniture a second life.

She suggests giving furniture a second life,

Adding plants indoors,

Cleaning one's space,

Alternating textile,

Picking statement pieces,

And designing outdoor areas.

Hygge also influences jails in Denmark.

In Hygge,

Food and Construction of Safety Among Incarcerated Women in Denmark,

Researchers Smoyer and Minka interviewed such women and found that they are permitted to wear their own clothes and attempt to make their selves as simple and cozy as possible.

The research concluded that hygge benefited these women.

The concept of hygge has been adopted in countries outside Denmark.

For instance,

In an article titled Home with Hygge,

Royals says that Americans often dream of bigger things,

And yet,

Per the World Happiness Report,

Rank only 18th,

While Danes consistently rank in the top three.

Some have begun to incorporate the hygge manifesto into their lives as a means to simplify.

Hygge has likewise affected India through its distinct interior design.

Ashok Mahani,

Vice President of the National Real Estate Development Council West,

Says,

Developers in Indian cities are suggesting that architects incorporate hygge's simplistic and cozy style of design into new builds.

Denmark,

Danish persons,

And Danish companies and organizations have been noted as deploying hygge as a soft power tool to achieve geopolitical aims.

Examples of this usage of hygge include Danish green industry companies seeking to attract the best talent from elsewhere,

The Danish alcohol giant Carlsberg's marketing efforts highlighting the camaraderie between beer consumption and sports entertainment,

And the University of Copenhagen explicitly stating that hygge's inherent coziness is a key reason that international students should seek to attend the university.

Sweden has a similar culture concept,

Lagom,

Described as not too much,

Not too little,

So embodying similar values to hygge's less is more attitude.

There are numerous activities that have been found to help reduce feelings of hostility and anxiety while also promoting an improved level of connectedness between people.

These hygge-lig activities shared by the Happiness Institute have been known to produce feelings of love,

Warmth,

And safety as a result of the release of oxytocin.

Participating in hygge practices may contribute to an overall positive feeling of well-being.

Some whom brace this practice may use it as part of an international holistic approach to their health care.

Some activities include manipulating the environment with candles and lighting,

Appreciating nature,

Promoting comfort and peace by participating in baths,

Massages,

Cozy blankets,

Practicing mindfulness through journaling,

Focusing on growing spiritually through meditation or prayer.

Collins English Dictionary named hygge the runner-up after Brexit as Word of the Year in the UK in 2016.

This followed a period during which several books focusing on hygge had been marketed in the UK,

Such as Meek Viking's The Little Book of Hygge,

Marie Turrell Soderbergh's Hygge,

The Danish Art of Happiness,

And Louisa Thompson Britt's The Book of Hygge,

The Danish Art of Living Well.

The concept of hygge gained popularity with an international audience in late 2017,

Resulting in an increase of online searches and the rise of the hashtag hygge on Instagram.

In Copenhagen,

The capital of Denmark,

There is a hygge and happiness walking tour.

Act 2 of the Broadway musical Frozen opens with the song hygge,

Which is all about being comfortable,

Happy,

And together.

In the Australian soap opera Neighbours,

Jemima Davies-Smyth incorporates hygge into a redesign of her half-brother Carl Kennedy's living room.

In the 2019 book of Sally Goldenbaum,

A Murderous Tangle,

Seaside Knitters Society Book 3,

Page 26,

The character Nell sees a poster and says the phrase out loud,

Seaside Knitting Studio's First Holiday Hygge.

The meaning and the format of their hygge is discussed in the poster and amongst the friends who meet regularly on Thursday nights for food,

Conversation,

Warmth,

And knitting at the studio.

Chapter 9 is descriptions of the first hygge event,

Which went well despite the cold and damp day and news of a murder,

Page 87.

A UK housing development in the town of Keensham,

Somerset,

Was named Hygge Park by developer Cress Nicholson in 2019.

Swedish-owned ferry company Stenaline offers a series of premium relaxation lounges on its Irish seaferry services called Hygge Lounges.

In November 2020,

The Hygge Suite brand of vacation rentals opened in Giants Ridge,

Minnesota,

And later two more in Lutson,

Minnesota.

Aimed at getting people away from the cities to relax and unwind with their loved ones.

In September 2022,

Hotel Hygge opened in Buellton,

California.

The second episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Motherland,

Soft Opening,

Saw Amanda open a concept store called Hygge Tuga,

Which unbeknown to her means cozy chewing in Danish.

The Ghost and Molly McGee episode Ready,

Set,

Snow,

Sees Molly trying to get the most out of a snow day while her family and Libby stay inside to experience Hygge.

The Dutch words gezellig and gezelligheid have a similar concept to Hygge,

Also pertaining to comfort and coziness,

But the Dutch words are often more socially oriented.

In German,

Gemütlichkeit means a state of warmth,

Friendliness,

And belonging.

The Norwegian adjective koslig is used to describe a feeling of warmth,

Intimacy,

And getting together in an agreeable environment.

The Swedish adjective mysig and its associated nouns mys describes a pleasant and warm atmosphere of togetherness in a pleasant setting.

The Japanese adjective verb matari suggests a feeling of calm relaxation.

In Yiddish,

The adjective haimish conveys the sense of familiar,

Homey,

Informal,

Cozy,

Warm.

The culture of Denmark has a rich artistic and scientific heritage.

The fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen,

1805-1875.

The philosophical essays of Søren Kierkegaard,

1813-1855.

The short stories of Karin Blixen,

Pen-name Isak Dennesen,

1885-1962.

The plays of Ludwig Holberg,

1684-1754.

Modern authors such as Hermann Hedlund,

And the dense aphoristic poetry of Piet Hein,

1905-1996 have earned international recognition as have the symphonies of Carl Nielsen,

1865-1931.

From the mid-1990s,

Danish films have attracted international attention,

Especially those associated with Stagma 95,

Like those of Lars von Trier.

Denmark has had a strong tradition of movie-making,

And Carl Theodor Dreyer has been recognized as one of the world's greatest film directors.

The astronomical discoveries of Tycho Brahe,

1546-1601.

Ludwig A.

Koldings,

1815-1888.

Neglected articulation of the principles of conservation of energy,

And the foundational contributions to atomic physics of Niels Bohr,

1885-1962.

In this century,

Lene Vestager Hau,

Born 1959,

In quantum physics,

Involving the stopping of light,

Advances in nanotechnology,

And contributions to the understanding of Bose-Einstein condensates,

Demonstrate the range and endurance of Danish scientific achievement.

Culture and the arts thrive as a result of the proportionately high amount of government funding they receive,

Much of which is administered by local authorities so as to involve citizens directly.

Thanks to a system of grants,

Danish artists are able to devote themselves to their work,

While museums,

Theaters,

And the Film Institute receive national support.

Copenhagen,

The capital,

Is home to many famous sites and attractions,

Including Tivoli Gardens,

Emelienborg Palace,

Home of the Danish monarchy,

Christiansborg Palace,

Copenhagen Cathedral,

Rosenberg Castle,

Opera House,

Friedrich's Church,

Marble Church,

Thorvaldsen's Museum,

Grondottan,

Nyhavn,

And the Little Mermaid sculpture.

Similar to other Scandinavian cultures,

A fundamental aspect of Danish culture is hygge.

Hygge,

Meaning snug,

Is a concept that evokes a coziness that cannot be easily described due to being more of a mood,

Particularly when relaxing with good friends or loved ones.

Christmas time is a true moment of hygge,

As is grilling a polse,

Danish sausage,

And drinking a beer on a long summer evening.

It is suspected the concept of hygge is part of the reason Danes and other Scandinavians score high on happiness.

The Danish word for the Christmas holiday is jul,

From the Old Norse jul,

The term for midwinter,

Itself cognate with the English word yule.

Midwinter celebrations were an important part of Scandinavian culture since prehistoric times,

And the term was retained to refer to Christmas after Christianization.

In many countries,

Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December,

But in Denmark and in other Scandinavian countries,

The most important day for celebrations is Christmas Eve on the 24th,

When the family comes together.

The morning can be spent in various ways,

But most often it is the time when preparations are made for the evening.

Yuleften,

Danish for Christmas Eve,

Or Yule Eve,

Starts around 6 pm,

When a traditional dinner,

Yulemiddag,

Is served.

Afterwards,

The candles on the Christmas tree are lit,

And the family dance around it singing Christmas songs and carols,

And subsequently exchange presents.

Danish folklore is made up of folktales,

Legends,

Songs,

Music,

Dancing,

Popular beliefs and traditions,

Mostly communicated by the inhabitants of towns and villages across the country.

Many of these were passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth.

As in neighboring countries,

Interest in folklore grew with an emerging feeling of national consciousness in 19th century Denmark.

Researchers traveled across the country collecting innumerable folktales,

Songs and sayings,

While observing traditional dress in various regions.

Folklore today is part of the national heritage,

Represented in particular by national and local traditions,

Songs,

Folk dances and literature.

Today's folk dancing in Denmark dates back to the beginning of the 20th century,

When there was renewed interest in the national heritage.

A number of groups began to revive the music,

Dances and costumes of past generations.

In 1901,

The Society for the Promotion of Danish Folk Dancing was founded in Copenhagen,

Leading to local dancing societies throughout the country.

Today there are more than 12,

000 folk dancers in 219 local clubs,

Providing courses in music,

Dancing and dressmaking.

The traditional costumes of Denmark,

Though varying from region to region,

Date back roughly to the period between 1750 and 1900,

When clothes were often homemade from yarn spun from wool or flax.

In rural countries,

The fabrication of garments for both family members and servants was an important part of everyday life.

The artist Frederik Christian Lund,

Who had traveled across Denmark as a soldier in the First Schleswig War,

Took an interest in sketching people in local costumes in various parts of the country.

He completed his collection of 31 colored sketches in 1864,

Publishing them as colored lithographs in Danish national costumes.

Numerous Danish folktales contain a range of mythical features such as trolls,

Elves,

Goblins and wights,

As well as figures from Nordic mythology like giants and hobby lanterns.

The Nisse is a particularly well-known legendary figure in Danish folklore,

Apparently dating back to pre-Christian times when it was believed there were household gods.

Traditionally,

Each farm had its own Nisse,

Living on the loft or in a stable.

Dressed in gray with a pointed red cap,

He was no taller than a 10-year-old boy.

The Nisse would be helpful if treated well,

For instance by offering him a bowl of porridge with a clump of bread.

The Nisse would also offer him a cup of butter at night,

But failing good treatment,

He would become quite troublesome and mean.

Perhaps the most typically Danish contribution to the meals of the day is the traditional lunch or smørrebrød,

Consisting of open sandwiches,

Usually on thinly sliced rugbrød.

The meal usually begins with seafood,

Such as marinated herring,

Smoked eel,

Crab,

Or breaded place fillets with remoulade and moves on with slices of roast pork or beef,

Meatballs,

Hams,

And liver pâté.

The sandwiches are richly garnished with onion rings,

Radish slices,

Cucumbers,

Tomato slices,

Parsley,

Remoulade,

Or mayonnaise.

The meal is mostly accompanied by beer,

On occasion also by shots of ice-cold snaps or aglavid.

In the evening,

Hot meals are usually served.

Traditional dishes include fried fish,

Roast pork with red cabbage,

Pot-roasted chicken,

Pot-roast,

And slow-cooked beef,

Meatballs,

Or pork chops.

Game is sometimes served in the autumn.

Steaks are now increasingly popular,

But is a modern addition.

A popular traditional Danish dessert,

Especially around Christmas,

Consists of æbleskiver,

Rather like small pancake doughnuts,

Which are fried in butter in a special pan and are served hot with jam and sugar.

Traditionally,

They were made with small pieces of apple in the middle,

Which is why they are called æbleskiver,

Literally apple slices.

In recent years,

Development of the new Danish cuisine based on the rediscovery of local ingredients presented in interesting new recipes has led to a significant number of new,

Highly acclaimed restaurants in Copenhagen and the provinces,

Several with Michelin stars.

This in turn has led to the new developments in food production with a series of new products based on organic farming.

Sports are popular in Denmark and its citizens participate in and watch a wide variety.

The national sport is football,

Soccer,

With the most notable results being qualifying for the European Championship six times in a row,

1984 to 2004,

And winning the championship in 1992.

Other significant achievements include winning the Confederations Cup in 1995 and reaching the quarterfinal of the 1998 World Cup.

Denmark's numerous beaches and resorts are popular locations for fishing,

Canoeing,

Kayaking,

And a broad range of other water-themed sports.

In speedway racing,

Denmark has won several world championships,

Including the Speedway World Cup in 2006 and 2008.

Other popular sports include golf,

Mostly popular among the older demographic,

Tennis,

In which Denmark is successful on a professional level,

Danish rugby union,

Which dates back to 1950,

And indoor sports such as badminton,

Handball,

And various forms of gymnastics.

As of January 2012,

The national handball team are the current reigning European champions,

And the team with the most medals won in European championship history on the men's side with a total of five medals,

Those being two gold medals,

2008 and 2012,

And three bronze medals,

2002,

2004,

And 2006.

And in 2016,

Denmark's handball team won the gold medal for men at the Olympics in Rio.

In recent years,

Denmark has made a mark as a strong cycling nation,

With Bjarne Ries winning Tour de France in 1996,

And Michael Rasmussen reaching King of the Mountains status in the Tour 2005 and 2006.

The Tour de France has been won for two consecutive years,

2022 and 2023,

By Jonas Vingegaard.

Most Danes are active cyclists,

Often using their bikes to commute to work or to go off on trips at the weekend.

With its well-engineered cycle paths,

Copenhagen is especially suited to city cycling.

Every day,

1.

3 million kilometers are cycled in the city,

With 36 percent of all citizens commuting to work,

School,

Or university by bicycle.

Cycling is generally perceived as a healthier,

Environmentally friendlier,

Cheaper,

And often quicker way around town than by public transport or car,

And it is therefore municipal policy for the number of commuters by bike to go up by 40 percent by 2012 and 50 percent by 2015.

Odense has been named the bicycle city of the year,

Because of the great number of bicycle lanes in the city.

A complete network of 350 kilometers all-weather-serviced lanes exist in the town.

During the summer months,

There are free city bikes stationed at various spots in the downtown area of Copenhagen,

Aarhus,

And Alborg.

The idea that anyone can take a bike from one of the spots,

Ride it to one of the other spots,

And leave it there for the next person.

There are many national and regional bicycle routes throughout Denmark.

They are all marked and include rest areas with benches and other necessities.

Danish painting goes back hundreds of years.

Earlier work is often manifested in churches,

For example in the form of frescoes such as those from the 16th century artist known as the Elmeland Master.

But it was not until the beginning of the 19th century that the golden age of Danish painting emerged,

With a marked increase in truly Danish art inspired by the country itself,

With its lifestyle and traditions.

Christopher Wilhelm Eckersberg was an important influence on the following generation's study of nature,

In which landscape painting came to the fore.

He had many successful students,

Including Wilhelm Benz,

1804-1832,

Kristen Koeptke,

1810-48,

Martinus Rødby,

1803-1848,

Konstantin Hansen,

1804-1880,

Jørgen Rød,

1808-1888,

Wilhelm Marstrand,

1810-1873,

C.

A.

Jensen,

1792-1870,

J.

T.

H.

Lundby,

1818-1848,

And P.

C.

Skovgard,

1817-1875.

Some years later,

A number of painters,

Including P.

S.

Kruger,

1851-1909,

And Michael,

1849-1927,

And Anna Anker,

1859-1935,

Moved to Skagen in the far north of Jylland to paint the natural surroundings and local people.

In due course,

The town developed into an artist's colony.

A little later,

A similar phenomenon developed and fined with artists such as Johannes Larsen,

1867-1961.

Wilhelm Hammershøi is another known painter.

Collections of modern art enjoy unusually attractive settings at the Louisiana Museum north of Copenhagen,

At the north of Jylland Art Museum in Elborg,

And at the Aarhus Art Museum in Aarhus.

The National Museum of Art and the Glyptotek,

Both in Copenhagen,

Contain treasures of Danish and international art.

Danish sculpture as a nationally recognized art form can be tracked back to 1751,

When Jacques Sally was commissioned to execute King Frederick V of Denmark while on horseback,

While Berthold Thorvaldsen,

1770-1848,

Was undoubtedly the country's most prominent contributor of his time,

Many other sculptors also produced notable works in the areas of neoclassicism,

Realism,

And historicism,

The latter resulting from a growing consciousness of a national identity.

From modern times,

Many notable works of surrealism and modernism have been produced,

Inspired by European trends,

Especially those from Paris.

Present notable Danish sculptors include Michael Kvim,

Hein Heysen,

And Bjørn Nørgaard,

But the field holds many skilled practitioners and the style has diversified greatly.

The principal contributors to Danish literature are undoubtedly Hans Christian Andersen,

1805-1875,

With his fairy tales,

The philosopher Søren Kierkegaard,

1813-1855,

Storyteller Karen Blixen,

1885-1962,

Playwright Ludwig Holdberg,

1684-1754,

And modern authors such as Henrik Pontappetan and Hermann Bang.

Among today's Danish writers,

Probably the best known to international readers,

Is Peter Hug,

Smilla's Sense of Snow,

Borderliners.

Benny Andersen writes poems,

Short stories,

And music.

Poems by both writers have been translated into English by the Curbstone Press.

Klaus Riffbjerg has published over 100 novels,

As well as poetry,

Short stories,

And TV plays.

Two of his works have been translated into English,

Witness to the Future and War.

Kirsten Thorpe's novel Baby,

Winner of the 1980 Pegasus Prize,

Is published in English by the University of Louisiana Press.

The psychological thrillers of Anders Bodelsen also appears in English,

As do some of the novels of Intrigue by Leif Davidson.

Susanne Broegger and Vita Andersen focus largely on the changing roles of women in society.

The architecture of Denmark has changed and evolved since prehistoric times,

But the oldest buildings to have survived the ravages of time dates to the early Middle Ages,

When brick was introduced as building material around 1150 AD,

And the first Romanesque,

Then Gothic,

Churches and cathedrals sprang up across the country.

Brick is still a locally produced,

Affordable,

Durable,

And widely used building material in today's architecture of Denmark.

Inspired by French castles and with the assistance of Dutch designers,

Architecture during the Renaissance flourished with magnificent royal palaces.

Neoclassicism came to Denmark from France,

And in the 19th century slowly merged into the national Romantic style,

When Danish designers came into their own.

It was,

However,

Not until the last half of the 20th century that Danish architects entered the world scene with their highly successful functionalism.

This,

In turn,

Has evolved into more recent world-class designers.

Such as Johan Otto von Spreckelsen,

Who designed the Grand Arch in Paris.

Internationally,

Perhaps the most celebrated of all,

Is the architect who designed the iconic Sydney Opera House,

Jørgen Utzon.

But within Danish borders,

It is the architect Arne Jacobsen who is perhaps held in highest esteem for developing the Danish modern style and furniture interior design,

Such as the now world-famous and much sought-after swan and egg chairs.

A new wave of Danish architects are rising into international prominence,

Like Bjørk Ingels with works such as the Danish National Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 Expo.

Photography in Denmark has developed from strong participation and interest in the very beginnings of the art,

In 1839,

To some of the strongest contemporary photography in Europe today.

Pioneers such as Mads Alstrup and Georg Emil Hansen paved the way for a rapidly growing profession during the last half of the 19th century,

While both artistic and press photographers have since made internationally recognized contributions.

Today,

Danish photographers such as Astrid Cruz Jensen and Jakob Aasobel are active both at home and abroad,

Participating in key exhibitions around the world.

Danish design is a term often used to describe a style of functionalistic design and architecture that was developed in mid-20th century,

Originating in Denmark.

Danish design is typically applied to industrial design,

Furniture,

And household objects,

Which have won many international awards.

The Danish porcelain factory,

Royal Copenhagen,

Including Bing and Gründel,

Is famous for the quality of its ceramic and export products worldwide.

Danish design is also a well-known Danish design is also a well-known brand often associated with world-famous designers and architects,

Such as Bjørg Mogensen,

1914-1972,

Finn Juul,

1912-1989,

Hans Wegener,

1914-2007,

Arne Jacobsen,

1902-1971,

Paul Kjerholm,

1929-1980,

Paul Henningsen,

1894-1967,

And Werner Pantin,

1926-1998.

Georg Jensen,

1866-1935 is known the world over for modern design in silver.

Other designers of note include Christian Solmervedel,

1923-2003,

In the area of industrial design,

Jens Harald Kiskald,

1919-2008,

For kitchen furniture and implements,

And Ole Wanscher,

1903-1985,

Who had a classical approach to furniture design.

The Danish Museum of Art and Design in Copenhagen exhibits the best in Danish design.

Denmark's most famous composer of classical music is Carl Nielsen,

Who is best known outside of Denmark for his six symphonies,

But whose melodies for popular songs are cherished among Danes.

Other well-known pieces of his are the incidental music for Adam Ollenschlager's drama,

Aladdin,

Nielsen,

The operas Sal og David and Masquerade,

The concertos for flute,

Violin,

And clarinet,

The wind quintet,

And the Helios Overture,

Which depicts the passage of the sun in the sky from dawn to nightfall.

The Royal Danish Ballet specializes in the work of Danish choreographer August Bernanville,

1805-79.

Hans Abrahamsen,

Per Nørgaard,

And Paul Reuters are successful composers of contemporary classical music.

Danish interest in classical music is exemplified by the prestigious opera house,

Completed in 2000.

Strategically set on Copenhagen's waterfront,

It has presented operas and musicals to full houses ever since its opening.

Danes have also distinguished themselves in rhythmical music.

With world-famous jazz musicians such as Svend Asmussen,

Niels Henig Ørsted Pedersen,

Niels Landoki,

And Marilyn Majur,

The Copenhagen Jazz Festival has acquired an international reputation.

The modern pop and rock scene has produced some bands of note,

Like Aqua,

Dizzy Mizzy Lizzy,

D.

A.

D.

,

The Revenants,

Michael Learns to Rock,

Alphabet,

Medina,

O-Land,

Kashmir,

Mew,

Atlantis,

And Duné.

Altogether,

Lars Ulrich,

Drummer of the band Metallica,

Has become the first Danish musician to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In recent years,

Danish films have gained increasing recognition at home and abroad.

Gabriel Axel's film based on Karen Blixen's Babette's Feast was awarded an Oscar in 1987.

In 1988,

Bill August also received an Oscar,

With Pelle the Conqueror,

Based on the novel of Martin Anderson Nexo.

In 1992,

August went on to win the Palme d'Or in Cannes,

With Ingmar Bergman's autobiography,

The Best Intentions.

Since the late 1990s,

The Dogma movie and figures such as Lars von Trier,

Thomas Vindeberg,

Søren Krach-Jakobsen,

And Lone Scherfik,

Have continued to contribute to the international success of Danish cinema.

In 2011,

Susanne Bier's In a Better World,

Won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The theatre in Denmark continues to thrive,

Thanks to the many theatres across the country which put on a wide variety of Danish and foreign performances.

The flagship Royal Danish Theatre presents drama,

Opera,

Ballet,

And music.

Since the 18th century,

Danish playwrights have been successful in attracting wide public interest.

Ludvig Holberg,

1684-1754,

Is considered by many to be the founder of the Danish theatre.

Satirical comedies such as Jeanne de France and Jeppe of the Hill are still performed today.

Adam Ullenschlager,

1779-1850,

Introduced romanticism to the Danish theatre.

Especially successful was his Earl Haken the Mighty,

Premiered in 1808.

The Norwegian Henrik Ibsen,

1828-1906,

Also travelled to Copenhagen where he produced numerous plays,

Such as A Doll's House,

1879.

In recent years,

There has been something of a revival in Danish theatre.

Many new playwrights and producers have appeared,

Including Astrid Selbach,

Born 1955,

Winner of the Nordic Drama Award in 2004,

And Peter Asmussen,

Born 1957,

Who wrote the film script for Lars Von Tiers' Breaking the Waves.

Danish musicals have also been a particularly successful feature of the modern theatre.

Knut Kruistensen,

Commonly known as Sebastian,

Was particularly successful with Cyrano,

1992,

Based on Rostand's play and Klokeren voor Notre-Dame,

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,

2001.

Bent Frabischius-Pierre's musical Matador,

2007,

Is based on a successful TV series of the same name.

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