Knud Arne Jürgensen (KAJ)

Research librarian, senior researcher, dr. phil.

Born 1952 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Graduated (classical languages) in 1970 from Statens Kursus, Copenhagen.
Piano studies with Professor Galina Werschenska 1968-1972, and at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music 1972-75.
Studies in Musicology at the University of Copenhagen 1975-1982.
Affiliated with the Music and Theatre Department at Copenhagen´s Royal Library 1978-1986 (as librarian).
Carlsberg Foundation Research Fellow 1987-1988 and 1993-1995.

Doctor of Music D.M. (Dr. phil.) from University of Copenhagen 1997 on the musicological and ballet-historical doctoral disputation The Verdi Ballets (see Bibliography).
Senior researcher and Head of Drama Collection from 1998 to 2010 at the Music and Theatre Department of The Royal Library, Copenhagen (as the library´s subject specialist in Dramaturgy, other scenic arts, ballet, dance and circus).
Freelance since 2010.
Member of the Board of Directors of Danish Society of Musicology (Dansk Selskab for Musikforskning), 2002-2006.
Member of the Board of Directors of Danish Dance History Archives (Dansk Dansehistorisk Arkiv), 1998-2010.
Member of the Board of Directors of Bartholin International Ballet Seminar, 2000-
Chief-editor of the CD-recording of Hans Christian Lumbye´s Complete Orchestral Works (Dacapo/Naxos/Marco Polo).
Guest lecturer at Copenhagen University and several foreign universities, museums and national theatres, including: Boston Harvard University, Colorado University, Vienna University, Vienna State Opera, Vienna Theatre Museum, Rome University La Sapienza, Paris Sorbonne, Paris Opera, Paris Centre National de la Danse (CND), and Berlin State Opera.
Collaborator/contributor to:
- Pipers Enzyklopädie des Musiktheaters: Oper, Operette, Musical, Ballet Forschungsinstitut für Musiktheater der Universität Bayreuth, München, Piper, 1986-1997).
- MGG Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (Kassel/Stuttgart, Bärenreiter-Verlag, 1994ff).
- Den Store Danske Encyclopædi (Danmarks Nationalleksikon, 1995-2001).
- International Encyclopedia of Dance (New York/Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1998).
Dramaturgical works:
Verdiana, Ballet in 2 acts (choreography: Patrice Bart), performed at:
- Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 1999.
- Maggio Danza, Teatro Verdi, Firenze, 2001.
Verdi-Ballett: Ein Maskenball, Ballet in 2 acts (five scenes) (choreography: Vladimir Malakhov), performed at: Staatsoper, Wien, 2001.
Choreographic reconstructions:
August Bournonville: Pas de trois from the ballet The Childhood of Erik Menved (1843), performed at:
- School of American Ballet, Juillard Theatre, New York City, 1981.
- Unge Balletstjerner, Dancescenen, Copenhagen, 1997.
Fanny Elssler´s La Cracovienne (1839) , performed at:
- Staatsoper, Wien, 1985.
- Marinsky Ballet, St. Petersburg, 1986.
- Balletto Carla Fracci, Teatro Nuovo, Milano, 1987.
August Bournonville: Fenella’s mime monologue from the opera La muette de Portici (1847), performed at: Staatsoper, Wien, 1986.
August Bournonville: Pas de trois from the ballet Soldier and Peasant (1829), performed at:
- Ballet de l´Opéra, Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, 1987.
Filippo Taglioni/August Bournonville: Divertissement frrom Act III of the opera Robert le diable (1831), performed at:
- Vaganova Academy, St. Petersburg, 1986.
- Balletto del Teatro San Carlo, Teatro Bellini, Napoli, 1989.
August Bournonville: Pas de quatre from the ballet La Somnambule (1829), performed at: Maggio Danza, Teatro della Compagnia, Firenze, 1991.
August Bournonville: Pas de trois from the ballet Raphael (1845), performed at: Maggio Danza, Teatro della Compagnia, Firenze, 1991.
Received the following decoration:
Cavaliere dell´Ordine della Stella della solidarietà italiana (OSSI), May 30, 2005.
Received the following research grants and awards:
- Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik Foundation, 1981, 1982, 1992, 2003, 2005.
- Italian EU State Scholarship, 1982-83.
- Her Majesty Queen Ingrid Roman Scholarschip (Danish Academy in Rome), 1984, 1985 and 2011.
- Danish Ministery of Culture Research grant, Vaganova Choreographic Academy, St. Petersburg, 1986.
- Italian Research Grant (Premio Giuseppe Verdi) at the Verdi Institute, Parma, Italy, 1989-1990.
- Hans Beck Memorial Award, 1998.
- Lillian Moore Prize Award (Dance Perspectives Foundation, New York), 1999.
Edited the following exhibitions and TV-documentaries:
- Bournonville – forgotten but preserved. Danish Broadcasting and Television, 1980.
- Documenting the Bournonville ballet The Lay of Thrym. The Royal Theatre, Copenhagen, 1990.
- Niels W. Gade – the composer. The Royal Library, Copenhagen (co-editor), 1992.
- Bournonville – the european. The Royal Library, Copenhagen, 2000.
- Viva Verdi! Verdi in Danmark – the early Danish Verdi-performances. The Royal Library, 2001.
- The repertory of the popular theatres in Denmark during the late 19th century as part of the exhibition “Det Moderne Gennembrud”. The Royal Library (co-editor), 2002.
- The Poet´s Theatre Dreams – Hans Christian Andersen and the Theatre. The Royal Library, 2005.
- Digterens & Balletmesterens luner, H.C. Andersens og August Bournonvilles brevveksling. Temaudstilling (Dronningesalsmontrene), Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Juni 2005.
- August Bournonville – his life outside the theatre, An exhibition about the private person August Bournonville. Exhibition at Villa Bournonville, Fredensborg, 28. may – 28. august 2005.
- The european August Bournonville – ballet-master, choreographer and theorist. Panel exhibition at The Royal Theatre, New Stage, on the occasion of the 3rd Bournonville Festival, June 3-11, 2005.
- Herman Bang: 150 years. Exhibition on the occasion of the 150th birthday of Danish impressionist writer Herman Bang, shown at The Royal Library, The Black Diamond, april 2007.