''Den Kongelige Gæst'' () is an opera in one act by

Hakon Børresen Axel Ejnar Hakon Børresen (2 June 1876 – 6 October 1954) was one of the foremost Danish composers of the 20th century. Life Børresen was born and died in Copenhagen, and was descended from a merchant family. As a child, he was given vi ...

; the libretto is by Svend Leopold, and is based on a story by

Henrik Pontoppidan Henrik Pontoppidan (; 24 July 1857 – 21 August 1943) was a Danish realist writer who shared with Karl Gjellerup the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1917 for "his authentic descriptions of present-day life in Denmark." Pontoppidan's novels and sh ...

. The opera was first given on 15 November 1919, at the

Royal Danish Theatre The Royal Danish Theatre (RDT, Danish: ') is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first s ...

, and has since proven to be among the most popular of Danish operas. The story plays out an evening in a doctor's home on the

Jutland Jutland (; , ''Jyske Halvø'' or ''Cimbriske Halvø''; , ''Kimbrische Halbinsel'' or ''Jütische Halbinsel'') is a peninsula of Northern Europe that forms the continental portion of Denmark and part of northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein). It ...

peninsula around 1900. Dr. Høyer and his wife are expecting guests for a dress ball. However, all the guests decline at the last moment, and Dr. Høyer is irritated, but slightly relieved. Instead, the family receives a surprise visitor, the unknown gentleman Prince Carnival, who acts in a free and easy manner, playing the piano, talking with Dr. Hoyer's wife, and suggesting to the couple to carry on with the party. Duration: 1 hour

Recording

The opera has received only two recording: * ''The Royal Guest'' Stig Fogh Andersen, tenor, Edith Guillaume, mezzo-soprano, Tina Kiberg, soprano, Lise-Lotte Nielsen, soprano Guido Paevatalu, baritone. Odense Symphony Orchestra

Tamás Vetö Tamás () is a Hungarian, masculine given name. It is a Hungarian equivalent of the name Thomas. The given name may refer to: * Tamás Adamik (born 1937), Hungarian linguist and professor * Tamás Bognár (born 1978), Hungarian footballer * Tamá ...

conductor * ''Den Kongelige Gæst'' Poul Wiedemann, tenor, Dorothy Larsen, soprano, Albert Høeberg, baryton, Det Kongelige Kapel conducted by Johan Hye-Knudsen, recorded live at The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, 27-4-1948 (Naxos Historical 8.112004)Naxos
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References

Danish-language operas One-act operas 1919 operas Operas Operas set in Denmark {{opera-stub Public domain music