#rita saxmark

[operafantomet]

I'm not sure if this is a hard ask, but do you have any photos of Carlotta and Christine's Elissa dress from the original production in Antwerp (1999)? I remember seeing at least one of Carlotta back in the day - I think on your old costume site.

I don't think I've ever seen one single photo of the Elissa skirt used by Susanne Duwe, Inneke van Klinken or the other Antwerp Christines. Utterly frustrating too!

But CARLOTTA'S Elissa skirt. Oh boy. So many photos. Partly because it was photographed in Belgium, as seen here on principal An Lauwereins 1999-2000:

...and partly because this particular skirt travelled on to Denmark, where it was used 2000-2003 and again in 2009 - which resulted in a gazillion photos. It was first used by Rita Saxmark and Eva Hess Thaysen 2000-2001:

Then by Vera Borisova in 2002:

Then by Eva Malmgren Karin Fridh in 2003:

And again by Eva Malmgren plus Malin Landing in 2009:

And yes, it was also photographed in with the backdrape in the end pose of the Hannibal scene many times:

And in elaborate backstage photos, as her from the Copenhagen Cultural Night costume exhibition:

So yes, a well docomented skirt! As a stark contrast to the Belgian Christine Elissa skirts. And one I missed in the Danish 2018-2019 production. They had retired this skirt and featured a new green West End one instead. It was a nice skirt in all aspects, but the above skirt is one of my favourites with its insane gold decorations.

[operafantomet]

POTO members + chandelier + civil clothing

Maria Bjørnson, designer

Rita Saxmark, Copenhagen

Hanne Damm? Copenhagen

John Riddle, Broadway

Norm Lewis and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Broadway

Sara Sarres, Sao Paulo

Jeremy Stolle and Elizabeth Welch, Broadway

Dmitry Ermak Ivan Ozhogin, Moscow

Valerie Link, Hamburg

Rachel Zatcoff, Broadway

Jordan Pollard, West End

[operafantomet]

I know you ADORED Eva Malmgren as Carlotta, but what did you think of the others?

2/2: “Other Carlotta’s in Denmark, sorry!!!”     

How I wish my memory was better… I probably saw every single Carlotta they had in Copenhagen, or nearly so anyway. But I only remember like half of them. Going by memory, here’s what I thought:

Eva Hess Thaysen and Rita Saxmark, 2000-2001: The original Carlottas in Copenhagen shared the role. I really don’t remember anything of either. Though I can say that I don’t have any memory of being disappointed or otherwise not liking them. Knowing Det Ny Teater, they usually cast well, trained legit opera singers in vital roles, and especially that of Carlotta. So I assume I would have liked both a lot had I gotten the chance to see them anew, but alas… I remember squat.

Vera Borisova, 2002: Anyone who’s seen/heard bootlegs from Hamburg knows she’s a hoot as Carlotta. A lot of ad-lib’ing, well-placed hmmmpfs and whimping, and a gorgeous mix of charm, vulgarness and elegance. She was never dull, and always adding a lot to the role. Loved her.

Eva Malmgren, 2003 + 2009: One of my all-time favourite Carlottas, regardless of what production and era. She understudying Vera Borisova, she took a lot of clues from her, especially the well-placed sobs and hmmmpfs. But this one oozed elegance in every movelent and gesture. Where Borisova could have a rougher approach, going for pure comedy, Malmgren was always such a diva, in a positive sense. In addition she had a lovely coloratura which brought the score to life. She even understudied Christine earlier on in Copenhagen, I always felt that made her Carlotta a bit more sympathetic towards Christine, for example in the “She’s mad”. It was said with wonder and sympathy rather than mockery.

Karin Fridh, 2003: She shared the role with Eva Malmgren in 2003. But like the original Carlottas, I really don’t remember anything of her in the role. To the point where I wonder if I actually saw her?

Malin Landing, 2009: She shared the role with Eva Malmgren in 2009. I saw her a couple of times. I never really felt she managed to make the role her own? At least not after seeing Vera Borisova and Eva Malmgren. She also had an annoying tendency to clip the high notes, as in simply not sing them. It was particularly annoying in Il Muto and the “laugh”. I always wondered why she did that, cause she sounded like she had the voice for it. Ah well. By no means a bad Carlotta, just a bit unmemorable.

Åsa Nordgren, u/s 2009: Possibly the only understudy I ever saw in Copenhagen. Apparently she went on without having properly rehearsed the role. I would never have guessed. She did everything right. Totally impressing to go on like that. I didn’t love her voice, however. She sounded a bit off-pitch in the Hannibal opening and throughout it didn’t quite click. Or maybe it was just me. The people I saw the performance with said they had not noticed anything. But yeah. A super-trouper for being thrown into an actual performance like that, but not necessarily a favourite. Might have been her, might have been me, I dunno.

So all in all, adoring Vera Borisova and Eva Malmgren. OK with Åsa Nordgren and Malin Landing. Not really remembering anything of Karin Fridh, Eva Hess Thaysen and Rita Saxmark. Not too bad statistics I guess.