January 7, 1989: Die Fledermaus in Oslo

1989-01-07 Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss), Den Norske Opera (Oslo)

Dr. Falke = Terje Stensvold
Alfred = Ragnar Ulfung
Adele = Solveig Kringlebotn
Rosalinde = Helena Döse
Eisenstein = Arild Helleland
Dr. Blind = Tor Gilje
Frank = Stein Arild Thorsen
Orlovski = Vesla Tveten
Ida = Gro Hundvin Eliassen
Frosch = Rolv Wesenlund

Zdenka Perharda, conductor




19 years after the performance, I say:

This operetta, The Bat (Die Fledermaus) is often played on New Years Eve or Day. Afterall it has a tune for Champagner as the King of Wine. This production was known for having Rolv Wesenlund, the famouse Norwegian comedian as Frosch. He is famous in Norway and Sweden. The old tenor master, Ragnar Ulfung sang Alfred and Swedish soprano Helena Döse was his wife. The new and now famous Norwegian soprano, Solveig Kringlebotn (or Solveig Kringelborn as she is called when she sings outside Scandinavia) was a wonderul Adele.

The operetta was upgraded to be set in the 1930's. Something that neither harmed it or enhanced it.

OD Travel

April 6, 1989: Tosca in Oslo

1989-04-06 Tosca (Puccini), Den Norske Opera (Oslo)

Floria Tosca = Helena Döse
Mario Cavaradossi = Gardar Cortes
Baron Scarpia = Stein Arild Thorsen

Antonio Pappano, conductor



I did not get to see Plácido Domingo as Mario Cavaradossi in Oslo with Helena Döse as Tosca. But I got the Icelandic tenor Gardar Cortes. And strangely enough I got to see his son as the Duke of Mantua in Nordfjordeid in 2005.

OD Travel