Breathing Space: Calmness, Coffee and Morning Music
Start your workday in complete calm as Rundetaarn and Camerata Øresund invite you in for coffee and a 30-minute mini concert of beautiful Baroque music.
We know this already: listening to music makes us feel good. Musical tones release the feel-good hormone dopamine, reduce the stress hormone cortisol, and strengthen the connection between the brain’s hemispheres. There is even evidence that live music boosts the production of the “love hormone” oxytocin.
In other words, there is a very good chance that a concert in the morning will make your day extra enjoyable, so of course you should come by Rundetaarn on May 13 at 8:15AM and enjoy Camerata Øresund in the iconic Spiral Ramp up the tower and the Library Hall.
From 8:15AM, you can follow the music through the Spiral Ramp, which has a very special acoustics, up to the Library Hall, where the concert takes place 8:30–9:00 AM. Rundetaarn will of course offer guests a complimentary cup of coffee, and you will also have the opportunity to enjoy the current exhibition AFTERGLOW. Conversations on Light afterward.
Music from Ole Rømer’s Time
The musicians of Camerata Øresund have selected about 30 minutes of atmospheric music by composers such as William Lawes, John Dowland, and Henry Purcell, creating space for both reflection and enjoyment. With the enchanting sound of Baroque instruments such as viols and lute, an intimate breathing space is created for the audience.
This morning, the full ensemble will create a very special moment of calm with music from the time of Ole Rømer, a period that Rundetaarn is marking in 2026 with a celebration of the 350th anniversary of the discovery of the speed of light.
Practical Information
The event costs the standard admission ticket but must be booked in advance. Included in the admission price are a cup of coffee, access to the exhibitions, and entry to the rest of Rundetaarn, including the excellent view from the top.
The event is supported by Augustinus Foundation, the Danish Arts Foundation, William Demant Foundation, Knud Højgaard’s Foundation, Beckett Foundation, Jorck’s Foundation, Danish Tennis Foundation, Frimodt-Heineke Foundation, and Toyota Foundation.
Did You Know…?
- Music can reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) by about 20–30% after short listening sessions
- Music can lower heart rate by up to 5–10 beats per minute
- Music can increase dopamine (the brain’s reward chemical) by up to 9%
The concert is part of the LIGHT YEAR 2026 program at Rundetaarn—a full year dedicated to light and marking the 350th anniversary of Ole Rømer’s groundbreaking discovery of the speed of light.
ROUND TOWER CLASSICS: NOVO Quartet
How does and echo of light sound? You may find out this evening, when NOVO Quartet, one of Europe’s leading young string quartets, visits the Round Tower to interpret the current exhibition through a very special performance that connects music and light.
In connection with the exhibition Light Echoes, where art becomes a medium for complex astrophysical research, NOVO Quartet invites the audience to a unique concert experience in which light installations are woven into the music, creating an atmosphere where time and space almost dissolve. As in the exhibition’s installations, the music becomes a reflection of cosmic phenomena, where art and science unite in a sensory experience of light, sound, and time.
Programme
The quartet will begin by performing an excerpt from Henryk Górecki’s String Quartet No. 2, a work that revolves around memory, repetition, and echoes.
After a short interval, the audience will experience Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht. An intense and transformative work in which darkness is gradually broken by light, forming a musical parallel to a star’s explosion and the hope that arises in its afterglow.
In this performance, the quartet will be joined by Kirsten Wilbrandt Kjær (viola) and Oskar Friis-Hansen (cello).
About the Musicians
NOVO Quartet consists of violinists Kaya Kato Møller and Nikolai Vasili Nedergaard, violist Daniel Śledziński, and cellist Signe Ebstrup Bitsch. Since the quartet was formed in 2018, they have performed on some of the world’s leading chamber music stages, including Wigmore Hall in London and Laeiszhalle in Hamburg.
The quartet approaches chamber music with curiosity, and on stage they radiate energy, courage, and artistic seriousness.
NOVO Quartet’s achievements include top prizes at competitions in Geneva, Heidelberg, Carl Nielsen, and Trondheim. Most recently, they were selected as BBC New Generation Artists 2025–27 —an important milestone that strengthens their growing presence in the United Kingdom. From autumn 2025, they will also begin a new chapter with a multi-year residency as Ensemble in Association at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Practical Information
Both before and after the concert, guests will have the opportunity to explore the exhibition Light Echoes as well as the tower’s permanent exhibition about the world-renowned astronomer Ole Rømer and his groundbreaking discovery of the speed of light.
Refreshments will of course be available, and guests are welcome to explore the Spiral Walkway or visit the viewing platform at the top of the tower.
Please note that the spoken parts of the event will be in Danish, but the music can be enjoyed by everyone.
The concert is part of the LIGHT YEAR 2026 programme at the Round Tower—a full year dedicated to celebrating light and the 350th anniversary of Ole Rømer’s groundbreaking discovery of the speed of light.
ROUND TOWER CLASSICS: Duo MiScha – Folk Music on the Move
Can music reveal layers of history and heritage in the same way as ice? That is what Astrid Mikaelyan and Julie Holmegaard Schade, better known as Duo MiScha, will explore this evening, when they draw inspiration from the current exhibition at the Round Tower to perform classical interpretations of Armenian folk music heritage.
The current exhibition, Refractions of Ice, reveals layers, patterns, and stories through macro photographs of ice, uncovering traces of past climates and humanity’s impact on nature. In the same way, music carries layers of history, heritage, and experience traces of lives that reach far back in time and still resonate today.
The concert interprets the Armenian folk music heritage through classical arrangements. Violinist Astrid Mikaelyan, an Armenian refugee, and accordionist Julie Holmegaard Schade weave together music and stories of loss, longing, and hope. The duo performs with physical presence, expressive gestures, and deep musical sensitivity, allowing the audience to feel Mikaelyan and Schade’s passion for communicating folk elements within classical music.
In this way, the concert creates a strong resonance with the themes of the exhibition; both open up conversations about how we understand our past and take responsibility for the future.
Part of a series
The concert is the third in a series of four, each interpreting one of the Round Tower’s exhibitions throughout 2026, all inspired by light. In 2026, we mark the 350th anniversary of astronomer and former director of the Round Tower, Ole Rømer, and his discovery of the speed of light.
The last concert is on October 29th, when Novo Quartet performes in the towers Library Hall.
About the Musicians
The duo was formed in 2014, united by a shared temperament and playing style, as well as a deep love for communicating folk elements within classical music. They first gained particular attention in 2016 when they won First Prize at the international accordion competition PIF-2016 Castelfidardo in Italy, in Category F (Chamber Music).
Practical Information
Both before and after the concert, guests will have the opportunity to explore the exhibition Refractions of Ice as well as the tower’s permanent exhibition about the world-renowned astronomer Ole Rømer and his groundbreaking discovery of the speed of light.
Refreshments will of course be available, and guests are welcome to explore the spiral walkway or visit the viewing platform at the top of the tower.
Please note that the spoken parts of the event will be in Danish, but the music can be enjoyed by everyone.
The concert is part of the LIGHT YEAR 2026 programme at the Round Tower—a full year dedicated to celebrating light and the 350th anniversary of Ole Rømer’s groundbreaking discovery of the speed of light
Astrid Engberg x Who Killed Bambi
As one of four curated concerts, you can now experience Astrid Engberg’s captivating vocals in beautiful union with the acclaimed string ensemble Who Killed Bambi in the atmospheric surroundings of the Round Tower.
The Danish singer, producer, composer, and DJ Astrid Engberg is effortlessly moving between soul, R&B, jazz, pop, and contemporary classical music. As a listener you are invited into a universe of both small and large-scale productions, personal stories, and spiritual exploration.
You can now experience her distinctive and sophisticated sound in the atmospheric Library Hall of the Round Tower together with the acclaimed string ensemble Who Killed Bambi.
The concert is the first in a series of four, all curated by singer and composer Josephine Philip.
Together, Engberg and Who Killed Bambi released the song “Lilies” in August 2025, which grew out of what they call “a modern love story”: namely, a thread on Instagram with countless messages, shared musical enthusiasm, and mutual curiosity that became the starting point for the release.
The doors open at 7.30 pm where it will be possible to buy a drink and experience the two current exhibitions, Ole Rømer and the Great Discovery and AFTERGLOW. Conversations on Light.
Please note that the spoken parts of the event will be in Danish, but the music can be enjoyed by everyone.
Astrid Engberg released her second album, Trust, in September 2023. Her debut album, Tulpa, was highlighted by Bandcamp Daily as one of the best albums of 2020 and also earned her widespread recognition in Denmark, where she received the award for Best Vocal Release of the Year at the Danish Music Awards Jazz, as well as a Steppeulv Award for Producer of the Year.
The seven string players of Who Killed Bambi debuted in 2009. They are driven by musical curiosity, playfulness, and a desire to experiment. In their collaborations with various artists, everything from pop hits to rock songs is given new life through the Aarhus-based string ensemble’s distinctive sound and virtuosic playing.
The concert is part of the Round Tower’s LIGHT YEAR 2026 programme, marking the 350th anniversary of Ole Rømer’s discovery of the speed of light.
Nordic Jazz with Bagland
Experience the acclaimed jazz quintet Bagland in historic surroundings as they take the stage in the Round Tower Library Hall.
For several years, Bagland has established itself as a significant presence on the Scandinavian jazz scene. The group’s music is rooted in a Nordic sound, inspired by the vast and open Nordic landscape, blending classical tradition with electronic elements.
At the Round Tower, the quintet will perform semi-acoustically, offering the evening’s guests a personal and intimate concert experience. The program will include selections from their latest release, “States of Being”.
The concert is part of the Round Tower’s LIGHT YEAR 2026 program, marking the 350th anniversary of Ole Rømer’s discovery of the speed of light. With its sensuous and atmospheric soundscape, Bagland’s music becomes a poetic contribution to this year’s exploration of light, perception, and the human experience of the world.
Bagland debuted in 2015 and consists of five musicians: Jakob Sørensen (trumpet), Alex Jønsson (guitar), Mathias Jæger (piano), Frederik Sakham (double bass), and Frej Lesner (drums). Together, the group has achieved both national and international success.
Doors open at 7:30 PM. Guests will be able to purchase refreshments and experience the current exhibition AFTERGLOW: Conversations on Light, as well as the introductory exhibition Ole Rømer and the Great Discovery.
The music can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of language, but please note that any spoken introductions and conversations during the event will be in Danish.
RUNDETAARN KLASSIK: Michalak and Schermi
How do light and darkness sound as music? On this evening, the duo Simone Schermi (violin) and Filip Michalak (piano) guide the audience through works by Bach, Mozart, Brahms, and Lili Boulanger in the concert “Towards the Light” — a musical journey through time between darkness and light.
This evening in RUNDETAARN KLASSIK, you can experience the duo Michalak and Schermi’s musical interpretation of the current special exhibition Ad Lucem — a concert experience created especially for the occasion. Ad Lucem is Latin and means “towards the light.” It can be understood both literally, as a movement from darkness to light, and symbolically, as a search for knowledge, truth, insight, or spiritual enlightenment.
The concert is the first in a series of four, each interpreting one of Rundetaarn’s exhibitions throughout 2026, all of which take light as their point of departure. In 2026, we also mark the 350th anniversary of the astronomer and former director of Rundetaarn, Ole Rømer’s discovery of the speed of light.
The interpretations of the works are presented by the Italian violinist Simone Schermi and the Danish-Polish pianist Filip Michalak. Schermi has played music since the age of 11, has won multiple prizes, and has served as both concertmaster and solo violinist in several orchestras. Michalak began his classical education at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, but has also studied in Stockholm and Manchester. He is now part of the “The Keyboard Charitable Trust” in London, while in Denmark he is behind the “Aalborg Chamber Music Festival”.
Evening Program
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata for Violin in B minor, BWV 1014
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata No. 22 in A major, K305
- Johannes Brahms: Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78
- Lili Boulanger: Nocturne for violin and piano
The doors open at 19:30, giving guests the opportunity to buy a drink at the bar and experience the current exhibition titled Ad Lucem. Be captivated by the exhibition’s enchanting deep-blue photographic works created with cyanotype. Before and after the concert, the audience will also be able to ascend to the top of the tower and see Copenhagen glowing in the darkness.
The event is part of the program for LIGHTYEAR 2026 at the Round Tower — a full year in which we celebrate light and the 350th anniversary of Ole Rømer’s groundbreaking discovery of the speed of light.
A beacon of light – Concert with Di Garbi
The Round Tower is transformed into a beacon of light, prayer and compassion, as we join Danish composer and pianist Di Garbi on a pilgrimage through the tower and gather for a concert in the final hours of the sun.
The audience is invited to a special evening where music and song will spread universal love – for each other and for the planet. The empty Library Hall in the Round Tower will set the scene for the concert, where Di Garbi, with her classical roots and poetic musical language, will perform beautiful compositions on the grand piano placed at the center of the space.
Di Garbi has a special focus on historical spaces from a time when architecture imposed different demands on sound.
The audience can enjoy this unique, almost ritual-like, experience seated on chairs and cushions around the piano in the historic hall at the heart of the Round Tower. A sense of unity and togetherness will arise as Di Garbi invites everyone to sing along to various mantras – both around the piano and in the Spiral Ramp.
After the concert, guests will have the opportunity to walk up and enjoy the view over Copenhagen – and perhaps catch a glimpse of the day’s last light.
Multi-artist Di Garbi
As a composer, singer, lyricist, and pianist, Di Garbi is a versatile musician who transforms historical spaces into the most enchanting concert halls through melodic music of classical, electronic, and cinematic character. Her compositions explore the human mind in a poetic musical language, often with a calming effect on the listener’s nervous system. In 2024, Di Garbi became the first Danish solo artist ever to record an album at Abbey Road’s Angel Studio in London.
Previously, Di Garbi has performed as artist-in-residence at venues such as Thorvaldsens Museum, the Royal Chapel at Christiansborg Palace, and Aarhus Theatre. Now, audiences can immerse themselves in her musical universe here in the Round Tower. We look forward to welcoming you.
We meet at the entrance to the tower and embark together on a shared pilgrimage to the Library Hall. Doors open half an hour before the concert begins.
A special thanks
Di Garbi are joined by three special guests:
Cæcilie Balling, violinist
Bilal Irshed, oudist
Stine Ciconia Rejnholdt, reading and text
The artistic team behind the concert also includes:
Marie Nørgaard Nielsen, costume designer
Glenn Rottland, MOTU, sound and setup
Stine Ciconia Rejnholdt, production assistant
Concert: Bremer/McCoy
What is the sound of Cosmos? The meditative, dub-inspired jazz duo Bremer/McCoy offers their interpretation as they visit the Round Tower to perform tracks from their latest album, titled Kosmos after the wondrous universe.
Experience an atmospheric and intimate concert in truly unique surroundings when Danish jazz duo Bremer/McCoy visits the tower as part of their latest record release, Kosmos.
The goal of the band’s music is to capture and share a worldview rooted in a sense of connection and freedom. In Bremer/McCoy’s cosmos we can meet each other in these feelings in a world without words. With the Universe as their overarching theme the duo captures the wonder and tranquility that comes with gazing at the night sky on a starry evening — looking out into the cosmos.
Listen to the album here.
Please note that this is an extra concert. Bremer/McCoy also plays on march 4th.
The event is part of the Round Tower’s astro festival, KOSMOS.
Concert: Bremer/McCoy
What is the sound of Cosmos? The meditative, dub-inspired jazz duo Bremer/McCoy offers their interpretation as they visit the Round Tower to perform tracks from their latest album, titled Kosmos after the wondrous universe.
Experience an atmospheric and intimate concert in truly unique surroundings when Danish jazz duo Bremer/McCoy visits the tower as part of their latest record release, Kosmos.
The goal of the band’s music is to capture and share a worldview rooted in a sense of connection and freedom. In Bremer/McCoy’s cosmos we can meet each other in these feelings in a world without words. With the Universe as their overarching theme the duo captures the wonder and tranquility that comes with gazing at the night sky on a starry evening — looking out into the cosmos.
Listen to the album here.
The event is part of the Round Tower’s astro festival, COSMOS.
Ars Nova & Phillip Faber
Experience the vocal ensemble Ars Nova Copenhagen and composer/conductor Phillip Faber in the Round Tower as they sing of both light and darkness in the Library Hall of the Round Tower.
For us in the Nordic region, light holds great significance. There is nothing as magical as the bright Nordic summers, when it feels like we live more than at other times of the year. The contrast to these bright summers — the dark winters — is also a crucial part of what defines us as Northerners. And even here in the southern part of the Nordic region, light and darkness in winter sometimes converge into a higher unity in the wondrous phenomenon we call the Northern Lights.
The evening’s program features music by Nordic composers such as Karin Rehnqvist, Hugo Alfvén, C.E.F. Weyse, and Bent Sørensen, but we also make a visit to a couple of our neighboring countries to the east and west with works by Scottish composer James McMillan and Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. The program also includes Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere, which, though not Nordic, was written for performance in Catholic Tenebrae services (shadow or darkness services).
Program
- Karin Rehnqvist – Natt över jorden
- Hugo Alfvén – Aftonen
- Uti vår hage
- Traditional arr. H. Parkman – Till Österland
- Gregorio Allegri – Miserere
- C.E.F. Weyse – Wanderers Nachtlied
- Kari Bæk – Videmus nunc per speculum/Laudate Dominum
- Bent Sørensen – In Paradisum
- Arvo Pärt – Morning Star
- Philip Faber – Hvis nu lyset (women only)
- Arthur Sullivan – The Long Day Closes (men only)
- James MacMillan – Miserere
- James MacMillan – O Radiant Dawn
Duration: Approximately 70 minutes.
Ars Nova Copenhagen was founded in 1979 and has long established itself as one of the world’s finest vocal ensembles. The ensemble specializes in interpreting the polyphonic choral music of the Renaissance and contemporary vocal music, performed with precision, intensity, and a sound that garners attention worldwide. Over the years, Ars Nova has toured in more than 35 countries.
Phillip Faber is one of Denmark’s leading conductors, composers, and musical personalities. Many in Denmark know Phillip Faber from TV sing-along broadcasts during the COVID-19 lockdown or as the host of programs like The Classical Music Quiz on DR2. But above all, he is a conductor and composer, educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. As a conductor, he moves between orchestral and vocal music; as a composer, between the Nordic simplicity and the complex; and as a communicator, between warmth and education.