In 1996, Copenhagen was awarded the title European Capital of Culture.
Amongst its most publicized events was the Danish and Scandinavian
première of the complete version of Alban Berg’s opera Lulu. In this study, an oral history methodology is applied to draw conclusions regarding the significance, reception, and legacy of Lulu
in Copenhagen from the perspectives of four Danish administrative
leaders involved in this production, who, through interviews, reflected
on this project within the context of Copenhagen’s cultural landscape.
Their testimonies depict a narrative of how this production established a
new perspective of opera in Copenhagen, as well as the innovation of
performing opera at unique venues not usually associated with this
genre. This phenomenon contributed to attracting a wider audience
demographic, who would be less receptive to more traditional methods of
opera staging. Furthermore, it was established by the Lulu
project instigators that the production depicted Danish cultural
identity, while simultaneously promoting an international cooperation
and an international standard of artistic execution.