Phantoms of the opera

Opening scene from a Danish adaptation of Phantom of the Opera. Eric and Raoul, Danish engineers, stand looking at the new Copenhagen Opera House across the harbor.

Erik: Do you think it looks like a toaster?

Raoul: Depends on your perspective. Can’t see the slots from here so you can get a sense of what the architect was trying to do.

Erik: No wonder Henning Larsen got annoyed with Moller. Patrons that rich and pushy can crush an architect’s vision.

Raoul: And make them so angry they fall out with the patron and won’t even come to the opening.

Erik: At least Larsen finished the job despite Moller putting bars over the windows. Sydney Opera House had problems too. Another Danish architect Jorn Utzon. But that was more the architect being dogmatic and not communicating well with the New South Wales Public Works over solving the design problems. He wouldn’t compromise and finally up and left.

Raoul: Intriguing symmetry there. One project distorted by a prima donna patron putting his oar in and the other by a prima donna architect demanding too much control and not explaining what he was doing.

Erik: Both them go a bit against the Danish grain of listening to the other fellow, wouldn’t you say?

Raoul: As Hamlet walks Elsinore, so too, will Danish phantoms inhabit opera houses.

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