The Artists of 1805: The Theatrical Collaboration of Andersen, Bournonville, and Hartmann

Abstract

There is a Danish saying that, having said A, you must continue on to B and C and so forth. In the year 2005 the saying would more likely go, Having said 'A,' you must also say 'B'?and 'H.' Cer tainly the great artists generation of 1805?Hans Christian Ander sen, August Bournonville, and Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann? represents the three leading artists of nineteenth-century Danish literature, choreography, music, and theatre culture, thanks to their individual artistic personalities and joint theatrical productions. Among themselves they often exchanged brief but meaning ful comments. An example of this can found in a letter written by Andersen to Bournonville on March 30, 1841, in which the poet praises the balletmaster with these telling words: You are a poet and I put much store in this little word. For his part, Bournonville wrote to Andersen on January 31, 1862, 'You interest, amuse, and touch. Yes, you convince and strengthen, more one cannot desire from a poet. In a poem dedicated to Hartmann, Andersen wrote on May 14, 1836, We endorse you and your music after our hearts!