Cantabile (symphonic suite)

Cantabile is a work composed from 2004 to 2009 by Frederik Magle. It consists of three symphonic poems (or movements) based on poems written by Henrik, the Prince Consort of Denmark published in his book Cantabile. The Cantabile suite was commissioned by the Danish Royal Family and the first movement was premiered in 2004.[1][2] The second and third movements were premiered on June 10, 2009 at a concert in the Copenhagen Concert Hall celebrating Prince Henrik's 75th birthday. On both occasions the music was performed by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Thomas Dausgaard.[3]

The music alternates between the sorrowful, which - according to the Prince Consort's biography (2010) - being unexpected at a birthday concert, caused unease among some of the guests present at the first performance of the Cortège & Danse Macabre in 2009, and sudden bursts of humour.[4]

Besides the original text by Prince Henrik in French, a Danish translation by Per Aage Brandt is also used in the work, and at places French and Danish is being sung at the same time.

  1. ^ "Komponist for prins Henrik". Berlingske Tidende (in Danish). June 10, 2004. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  2. ^ "Henrik bag musik for prins Henrik" (in Danish). TV2 Nyhederne. June 10, 2004. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  3. ^ "HKH Prinsgemalens 75-års Galla" (in Danish). DR - Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  4. ^ Surrugue, Stéphanie (2010). Enegænger. Politikens Forlag. pp. 357–358. ISBN 978-87-567-8729-1.