Lalla Carlsen

Lalla Carlsen
Lalla Carlsen performing a cabaret at Chat Noir in 1920.
Born	Haralda Petrea Christensen (1889-08-17)August 17, 1889 Svelvik
Died	March 23, 1967(1967-03-23) (aged 77) Oslo
Nationality	Norwegian
Occupation(s)	Singer and actress
Years active	1914–1965
Spouse	Carsten Carlsen ​ ​ (m. 1917⁠–⁠1961)​ 2 children

Lalla Carlsen (née Haralda 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.

Personal life

Lalla Carlsen was born in Svelvik as the daughter of shipmaster Carl Alfred Christensen and Laura Nilsson. The family moved to Christiania when she was ten years old. She married composer, pianist and kapellmeister Carsten Carlsen in 1917, and adopted the name Lalla Carlsen. She was a grandmother of Vibeke Sæther.

Career

She studied at the music conservatory in Oslo from 1909 to 1913, as a soprano singer. She made her professional debut in the musical comedy Høstmanøver in 1914. She performed at the cabaret Chat Noir from 1915 to 1947, and also appeared at the revue stages Casino and Carl Johan Teatret. Her husband Carsten Carlsen was kapellmeister at Chat Noir, and her regular accompanist. Her film début was in the silent film Den glade enke i Trangvik from 1927, and she starred as the singer in the film Lalla vinner from 1932. Between 1928 and 1931 she recorded about forty songs and sketches. During the Second World War Carlsen performed at the Carl Johan Teatret, and her husband composed melodies for several of her songs. Her introduction of Finn Bø and Arild Feldborg's song "Norge i rødt, hvitt og blått" in 1945 was met with wild enthusiasm. After the war she played minor character roles in twenty films, between 1947 and 1965, such as in I slik en natt from 1958, and in the 1961 film Bussen by Arne Skouen. She performed for radio, television, at the revue theatres Edderkoppen and Chat Noir, and at traditional theatres. She acted in O'Neill's Skjønne ungdom at Rogaland Teater, played the character "Mrs. Peachum" in an adaptation of Brecht/Kurt Weill's musical The Threepenny Opera at Riksteatret, the character "Aase" in Ibsen's verse drama Peer Gynt, and played in O'Neill's drama Anna Christie.

Legacy

Lalla Carlsen was awarded the King's Medal of Merit in gold in 1949. She became an honorary member of the Norwegian Actors' Equity Association in 1958. She was honoured with a statue at her birthplace Svelvik in 1989, sculptured by Per Palle Storm. The street Lallakroken at Briskeby in Oslo, where she lived from 1930, is named in her honour. The biography Lalla og hennes verden, penned by her son, was published in 1989.

Filmography

• Den glade enke i Trangvik (1927), as "Bergtora"
• Lalla vinner! (1932), as "Lalla Hansen"
• Op med hodet! (1933), as "actress"
• Sankt Hans fest (1947), as "Madam Blomgreen"
• Ukjent mann (1951), as old lady
• Ung frue forsvunnet (1953), as the maid
• Brudebuketten (1953), as "Berthe"
• Blodveien (1955), as "Ane"
• Bedre enn sitt rykte (1955), as "Miss Hansen"
• Kvinnens plass (1956), as "boardinghouse hostess"
• På solsiden (1956), as "boatwoman"
• I slik en natt (1958), as "Maren"
• Høysommer (1958), as "Oline"
• Hete septemberdager (1959), as "Lindby's sister"
• Støv på hjernen (1959), as "Mrs. Svenkerud"
• Millionær for en aften (1960), as owner of Maison Stellas
• Sønner av Norge (1961)
• Bussen (1961), as "Klara Tallerud"
• Tonny (1962), as newspapercarrier
• Freske fraspark (1963)
• Alle tiders kupp (1964), as aunt "Sara"
• Hjelp - vi får leilighet! (1965)
• To på topp (1965), as "Josephine Hansen"