Review

Classical Evergreens:

Norwegian Opera

by Madeleine HARGREAVES

On the evening of Tuesday 13June, the Norwegian Embassy treated Colombo to the 'Classical 'Evergreens'' Opera at the Russian Cultural Centre. The concert featured three internationally acclaimed Norwegian Opera Singers, Rita Heigre (Soprano), Nils Harald Sødal (Tenor), Anna Einarsson (Mezzo-soprano) and talented Pianist James Duddle. I found them to be extremely charismatic and a pleasure to watch and listen to.

Rita is a lyrical soprano, educated at Barrat Due Musikkinstitutt and at Oslo National Academy of the Arts (former Norwegian State Opera institute/ SOHS). During her studies Rita performed musicals in both Oslo and Stockholm.

She worked for seven years as a soloist for the Norwegian National Opera and has also worked extensively with several choirs and the majority of Norwegian symphony orchestras.

During the 'Classical 'Evergreens'' Opera, Rita showed herself to be a truly accomplished, confident and versatile vocalist, as well as an expressive performer. Rita performed Viljasong from Merry Widdow by Lehar, O mio babino caro by Puccini as solos.

She was equally spellbinding in the duets she performed with Nils and Anna, such as 'You´ll never walk alone' from Carousel by Roger and Hammerstein and 'La traviata' by Verdi.

Nils Harald Sødal was educated at The Norwegian Academy of Music and from the University of Oslo. He has performed in several impressive roles at the Norwegian National Opera.

These include Camille de Rossilon in The Merry Widow (Franz Lehár), Pilatus in Barrabas (Hvoslef), Alfredo in La Traviata (Verdi), Alfred in The Bat (J. Strauss), Apollo in Orfeo (Monteverdi) and Don José in Carmen (Bizet).

Nils is very well known internationally especially in Germany and Scandinavia in the title role of Alfred Herring. He has been involved extensively within contemporary opera and won a scholarship from the Norwegian government for work in new music.

He was irresistible to watch and listen to as he performed 'Tonerna' by Sjöberg, 'O sole mio' as solos. He also sang several duets and medleys with Anna and Rita. Among these were Pie Jesu by A. Lloyd-webber (with Rita) and 'All I ask of you' duet from 'The Phantom of the opera' by Andrew Lloyd webber (with Anna).

Anna was educated at the The Academy of Music in Malmö and at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts. She made her debut at the Norwegian National Opera in the role of Dryade (Ariadne auf Naxos).

She played the title role in Carmen, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Prins Orlovsky in the Bat, Clotilde in Norma, Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Flosshilde in das Rheingold, Rossweise in die Valküre, Anitra in Peer Gynt og Azucena in Verdis Trubaduren. She was also Olga in Eugen Onegin, Nancy in Albert Herring, Endymione in Calisto, Audne in Stallo by Ole Olsen and Santuzza by Mascagni.

Anna was a fascinating performer to watch as she is highly expressive with both her face and body. Among her excellent solo performances were 'Var det en dröm' by J. Sibelius, 'Habaneran' from 'Carmen' by G Bizet. She also sang 'Mon couer s´ouvre a ta voix' from 'Samson and Dahlila' by Saint-saens with Nils.

James Duddle in from Norwich in the UK and sang in the Norwich Cathedral Choir as a child. It was there that he learned to play the Piano and the Organ and continued his studies at the Royal College of Music, London. For his Postgraduate studies at the RCM he took the Orchestral Conducting Diploma and received a Distinction for his final exam.

He currently works as a freelance conductor and pianist based in Oslo. Opera engagements during the spring include Monteverdi's "L'Incoronazione di Poppea"at the Norwegian Opera and Mozart opera highlights with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra.

James is clearly a talented musician who performs his role as pianist discreetly, able to support his fellow performers without drawing attention away from them. James performed a Prelude piano solo by Rachmaninov which held the audience captivated.

Anna, Nils and Rita each sang their pieces with beautiful clarity and without a false note. The performance of the three singers together and separately was powerful and moving. At times the performance almost transported the audience to an altered state of reality and some of the duets were truly spellbinding.

After the performance, I interviewed some of the audience and their reactions were also very positive. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole performance and as a fellow European, I felt extremely proud of the 'Evergreens'.

By far my favourite pieces were those performed by all three singers, especially 'Time to say goodbye from Sarah Brightman's duet with Andrea Bocelli and Lloyd Webber's All I ask of you from Phantom of the Opera.

Since their performance in Colombo, the 'Evergreens' have continued to tour Sri Lanka. Among their appointments were 20th June at the Engineering Faculty Theatre (E.O.E. Pereira Theatre) in Kandy and various concerts and workshops for children for children in Colombo, Negombo and Kandy.

They also held a five day master class for the students of the University of Visual and Performing Arts which concluded with a joint performance by the artists and students on 22 June, at the Lionel Silva Memorial Hall.

Finally a collaborative music performance by the artists and the Symphony Orchestra was held on the 26th of June. It is clear that the ''Evergreens'' have been working extremely hard since their arrival in Sri Lanka and I wish them a well earned rest as they return home and hope that they will return to Sri Lanka in the near future.