Lalla Carlsen | |
|---|---|
_(10532769096).jpg) Lalla Carlsen | |
| Born | Haralda Petrea Christensen (1889-08-17)17 August 1889 Svelvik, Norway |
| Died | 23 March 1967(1967-03-23) (aged 77) Oslo, Norway |
| Resting place | Oslo Western Civil Cemetery |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Occupation(s) | Singer and actress |
| Years active | 1914–1965 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Lalla Carlsen (néeHaralda Petrea Christensen) (17 August 1889 – 23 March 1967) was a Norwegian singer and actress. She is regarded as one of the most legendary female revue artists in Norway.[1]
Lalla Carlsen was born inSvelvik as the daughter ofshipmaster Carl Alfred Christensen and Laura Nilsson. The family moved toChristiania (now Oslo) when she was ten years old. She married composer, pianist andkapellmeisterCarsten Carlsen (1892 –1961) in 1917 and was known by the stage name Lalla Carlsen.[2]
Their daughter Gjertrud Carlsen (1919–2007) was also a pianist on Chat Noir, wrote several children's songs and was the mother of NRK media personality Vibeke Sæther (born 1943). Their son Arne-Carsten Carlsen (born 1922) became an author, journalist and editor atAftenposten.[1]
Carlsen studied at theOslo Conservatory of Music from 1909 to 1913, as a soprano singer.[1] She made her professional debut in themusical comedyHøstmanøver in 1914.[3] She performed at the cabaretChat Noir from 1915 to 1947, and also appeared at the revue stagesCasino and theCarl Johan Theater.[1] Her husband Carsten Carlsen waskapellmeister at Chat Noir, and her regular accompanist.[4]
Her breakthrough performance came withPer Kvist's song "Å blei d'a dei (din blei)?" from the 1925 revueSummetonen.[1]
Her film début was in the silent filmDen glade enke i Trangvik from 1927, and she starred as the singer in the filmLalla vinner from 1932.[4] Between 1928 and 1931 she recorded about forty songs andsketches.[1] During theSecond World War Carlsen performed at the Carl Johan Theater, and her husband composed melodies for several of her songs.[4] Her introduction ofFinn Bø andArild Feldborg's songNorge i rødt, hvitt og blått in 1945 was met with wild enthusiasm.[1] After thewar she played minor character roles in twenty films, between 1947 and 1965, such as inI slik en natt from 1958, and in the 1961 filmBussen byArne Skouen.[4] She performed for radio, television, at the revue theatresEdderkoppen and Chat Noir, and at traditional theatres. She acted inO'Neill'sSkjønne ungdom atRogaland Teater, played the character "Mrs. Peachum" in an adaptation ofBrecht/Kurt Weill's musicalThe Threepenny Opera atRiksteatret, the character "Aase" inIbsen's verse dramaPeer Gynt, and played in O'Neill's dramaAnna Christie.[1][4]
Carlsen died inOslo on 23 March 1967.[3]
Lalla Carlsen was awarded theKing's Medal of Merit in gold in 1949. She became an honorary member of theNorwegian Actors' Equity Association in 1958. She was honoured with a statue at her birthplace Svelvik in 1989, sculptured byPer Palle Storm. The street Lallakroken atBriskeby in Oslo, where she lived from 1930, is named in her honour.[1][5]
The biographyLalla og hennes verden (Oslo: Gyldendal Forlag. 1989) was written by her son Arne-Carsten Carlsen.[6]
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