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© Per Morten Abrahamsen
A Folk Tale
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 February 2026 | ||||||
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A Folk Tale - Ballet
Expected duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes incl. 2 intervals
A true fairytale ballet by August Bournonville, Sorella Englund and Nikolaj Hübbe
Harmony and peace are quintessential to Bournonville's ballets, but beneath the idyll of A Folk Tale, there lurks an undercurrent that simmers, bubbles and vibrates with life.
When the great cholera epidemic struck Copenhagen in 1853, August Bournonville fled the capital. Overwhelmed by his escape from death, he created A Folk Tale. Consequently, this ballet, born out of grim circumstances, is perhaps infused with vitality and joy as a reflection of his relief.
In the best tradition of the Danish Golden Age, Bournonville presents us with the tensions between our world and the enticing, demonic underworld. Junker Ove is engaged to the capricious and wild Birthe from the grand manor but falls in love with the gentle Hilda, who lives in the troll hill. As it happens, the two girls were exchanged at birth, compelling Junker Ove to battle courageously for his beloved Hilda. Only after the elf maidens have all but danced him to the brink of insanity can the two be united in the bright summer night to the famous bridal waltz.
Nikolaj Hübbe and Sorella Englund, along with set designer Mia Stensgaard, have lovingly reimagined Bournonville's classic, creating a performance that ranges from the serene beauty of Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi to the wildest rave party with troll bugs, swamp children, vampire witches and headless giants.
Program and cast
Conductor: Robert Houssart
Choreography: August Bournonville
Choreography: Nikolaj Hübbe
Choreography: Sorella Englund
Music: J.P.E. Hartmann
Music: N.W. Gade
Set Design: Mia Stensgaard
Costume Design: Mia Stensgaard
Lighting Design: Mikki Kunttu
Video Design: Martin Reinwald
Dramatisering: Ole Nørlyng
Cast - Subject to change
Conductor: Robert Houssart
Hilda, a mountain girl: Stephanie Chen Gundorph
Hilda, a mountain girl: Astrid Elbo
Muri, a sorceress: Oliver Marcus Starpov
Muri, a sorceress: Ludwig af Rosenborg
Viderik, her son: Tobias Praetorius
Viderik, her son: MacLean Hopper
Diderik, her son: Jón Axel Fransson
Diderik, her son: Mads Blangstrup
Miss Birthe, heiress to Højgården: Holly Dorger
Miss Birthe, heiress to Højgården: Camilla Ruelykke Holst
Junker Ove, her fiancé: Ryan Tomash
Junker Ove, her fiancé: Andreas Kaas
Mr. Mogens, a chamberlain: Sebastian Pico Haynes
Mr. Mogens, a chamberlain: Alexander Stæger
Mr. Mogens, a chamberlain: Jonathan Chmelensky
The Copenhagen Opera House
The house is administered by the Royal Danish Theatre and is one of the best-equipped in the world. It has a main stage with five other stages directly connected, where large setups can be moved easily in and out. The theatre can seat between 1492 and 1703, depending on the size of the orchestra. The 1492 seats are all individually angled in order to provide the best experience.
The orchestra pit is one of the largest in any opera house, with room for 110 musicians; the structure provides excellent sound quality for the orchestra. If the pit is filled, some musicians are located just below the front of the stage, which has become controversial among some members of the orchestra (according to tour guides in 2005), because this increases the sound levels, beyond those acceptable in Denmark. However, the overhang is very slight and the authorities have permitted this to happen.
During construction of the theatre, some acoustic tests were carried out with the fire curtain in place while technical work was carried out on stage, but great consideration was given to balance between pit and stage. If the orchestra is small or absent, the pit can be covered and additional seats can be added to the auditorium.
Opera House entrance
Just like the old Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, The Queen has her own box on the left side of the auditorium, closest to the stage. The foyer has been designed for comfort, based on behavioural research on opera goers maximizing the wall area for standing against, while still providing views across the entire foyer and one of the best views on Copenhagen. Guided tours cover most of the building, including both the auditorium and backstage areas.
© Per Morten Abrahamsen
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