'You must say thank you!' These were the words spoken by the most powerful man in Denmark, container ship operation company owner Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller (his company ranked 106 on the Fortune Global 500 list for 2009) - or simply Mr. Møller in Denmark. To one of the most influential Danish architects (among his works very recognized for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh) Henning Larsen in connection with his project to build the new Opera house in the habour of Copenhagen. On an axis right across from the Royal Palace.
According to Henning Larsen and his new book entitled after those very words, the words were spoken in order to set things straight between the two men - as to who was in charge. And as an old saying goes - he who pays for the music, decides the repertoire. And that led to conflicts between the powerful business man and the architect about the architectonic details - almost all of the details, according to Henning Larsen. Mr. Møller's view was quoted by his personal assistant in the newspaper of Weekendavisen, that he saw no conflict, but was very happy with the building.The book and interviews have created a storm in the Danish media, because nobody normally contradicts Mr. Møller. With this conflict we are witnessing the clash between business and culture - of hard head against soft heart. And with these two men, respectively 96 and 84 years old, we are witnessing the confrontation of two silverbacks - or the Clash of The Titans. Not bad for a paradoxical news week. Or maybe that is just the story line when it comes to building opera houses. The conflict between the patron of art and the architect has to be as strong as the house to last for centuries (see the Sydney Opera for another example). The process has to be as arduous as the final performance. And the artistic discords as dramatic as the operas it houses. A concept that PN would like to coin as The Opera Paradox.
For further information, please see:
LÆS OGSÅ Opera-arkitekt: Hr. Møller ville ødelægge min tegnestue
www.g.dk/bog/de-skal-sige-tak!-henning-larsen_9788770557832
www.g.dk/bog/de-skal-sige-tak!-henning-larsen_9788770557832
Please see the THX Alternative Award Speech list below:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/award-speech.html