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

September 29, 1988: L'Elisir d'Amore, Oslo

1988-09-29 L'Elisir d'Amore (Donizetti), Den Norske Opera (Oslo)

Adina = Ingjerd Oda Mantor
Nemorino = Kjell Magnus Sandve
Belcore = Terje Stensvold
Dulcamara = Svein Carlsen
Gianetta = Inger-Lise Walseth

Antonio Pappano, conductor



It was a very enjoyable evening with Kjell Magnus Sandve as Nemorino, and Ingjerd Oda Mantor as Adina. Wonderful!

OD Travel

September 13, 1990: Ballo in Maschera in Oslo

1990-09-13 Un Ballo in Maschera (Verdi), Den Norske Opera (Oslo)

Gustaf III = Franco Bonanome
Ancharström = Jan Sødal
Amelia = Kjersti Ekeberg
Grev Claes Horn = Gudjon Oscarsson
Grev Adolf Ribbing = Terje Stensvold
Oscar = Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz
Ulrica Arvidsson = Anne Gjevang

Antonio Pappano, conductor




I am sorry to say that I only remember vividly Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz as Oscar. She was boyish enough. Whether Franco Bonanome was a great Gustaf or Kjersti Ekeberg an Amelia on par with Karita Mattila or if Anne Gjevang as Ulrica was better than Elisabetta Fiorillo in 2004 London's Ballo, I guess it was good.... but I do not remember it.

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June 22, 2014: Der Fliegende Hollender in Oslo

2014-06-22 Der fliegende Holländer (Wagner), Den Norske Opera & Ballet (Oslo)

Hollenderen = Terje Stensvold 
Senta = Erika Sunnegårdh
Daland = Ketil Hugaas
Erik = Henrik Engelsviken
Mary = Tone Kummervold
Styrmannen = Marius Roth Christensen

John Helmer Fiore, conductor
Den Norske Opera & Ballet

REGI - Andreas Homoki
SCENOGRAFI - Wolfgang Gussmann
KOSTYMER - Wolfgang Gussmann
DRAMATURGI - Werner Hintze

LYSDESIGN - Franck Evin

I thought I would be so bored. This was Wagner after all. Opera with no intervals is just plain wrong. I have to admit I looked at my watch. First time I looked one hour had already passed. I thought I saw wrong numbers it was dark there. So this was working and with this regie and scenography it did not make sense to stop between acts.

Here one could have compassion with the Hollender because he care about Senta. When the H understand that Senta would probably suffer eternally he wants to stop the wedding. Senta has promised herself to Erik years ago but she is so much in love in the idea of the H. Erik loves Senta but he comes of more like a brute who has such self-pity. The H. is a man who has suffered a lot for his arrogance but his love for Senta makes him able to put Sentas life and happiness first, something Erik has not learned. Senta shows her "love" for the H. with sacrifising her life, she blows her brains out.

The Romantic Opera of Wagner. Where is the Romance really? Senta is not really the kind of woman one should aim to be. Daland, her father talks about her that she would be as pleasing and obidient to her husband as she is to Daland. Senta, my sweet child. But ever since she heard the story of the flying hollender she has been wild. So it was a great!!


After the opera and the applaus and the speech and flowers it was time to go home.

OD Travel & Photos
Original blog post

For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com If you want to see more photos from my OperaDuets Travels, go to www.operaduetsphotos.com

May 22, 1981: Die Csardasfurstin in Oslo

1981-05-22 Die Csardasfürstin (Kalman), Den Norske Opera (Oslo)

Leopold Maria,
Fürst Lippert-Weylersheim = Almar Heggen
Anhilte, his wife = Vessa Hanssen
Edwin, their son = Jan SødaI
Stasi, his cousin = Eva SoIheim
Graf Boni Kancsianu = Tor Fagerland
Sylva Varescu = Else Dehli
Graf Feri von Kerekes = Tor Gilje
Eugen von Rohnsdorff = Terje Stensvold

Zdenko Peharda, conductor



Czardasfyrstinnen = Die Csardasfürstin
Operetta in three acts by EMMERICH KALMAN
Den Norske Opera
Friday 22. may 1981

Text by Leo Stein and Bela Jenbach
Adaption: Folke Abenius
Translation of song text: Einar Sissener
Translation of dialogue: Wilhelm Sandven
Conductor: Zdenko Peharda
Regie: Folke Abenius og Eugene Gabay

Scenography: Wolfgang Vollhard
Costumes: Anna Gisle
Choreograpyi: Eugene Gabay



Den Norske Operas Chorus and Orchestra

Performance starts. 19.30 and ends ca. 22.30
Pause between the acts.

My first time in any opera house, my first operetta. I loved it. This operetta, this production was also later televised although with other singers. Tor Fagerland was great as the cute count Boni.

OD Travel

May 3, 1985: Carmen in Oslo

1985-05-03 Carmen (Bizet), Den Norske Opera (Oslo)

Carmen = Anne Gjevang
Don Jose = Kåre Bjørkøy
Escamillo = Terje Stensvold
Remendado = Arild Eriksen
Dancairo = Tor Fagerland
Zuniga = Carsten H. Stabell
Morales = Yngvar Krogh
Micaela = Toril Carlsen
Frasquita = Inger Lise Walseth
Mercedes = Vessa Hanssen

Per Åke Andersson, conductor




DEN NORSKE OPERA
Friday 1985-05-03
CARMEN
Opera in 4 acts by Georges Bizet
Text: Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halevy
Translation: Per E. Fosser
Conductor: Per Åke Andersson
Regie: Frank Corsaro
Scenography: Franco Colavecchia

Sølvguttene
. 19.30 - ca. 22.45

Guerilla-Carmen. Carmen in Latin America with Carmen and the Bandits as guerilla soldiers. Norwegian guest-stars, Anne Gjevang who really was a international star at that point, Kåre Bjørkøy success abroad and at home.

But frankly, does Carmen need up-dating. No. But the production was not bad...

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